Photobiomodulation in Salivary Production of Patients With Xerostomy

Xerostomia is a quantitative and qualitative alteration of saliva, a symptom present in individuals who make continuous use of medications to control chronic diseases, including hypertension. Difficulties in mastication, swallowing, phonation and palate are present, besides oral burning syndrome, periodontal disease, root caries and bad breath that will interfere in the quality of life, making it difficult to socialize in society. Currently, the methods presented for treatment of xerostomia are palliative, so their use does not consist of an effective treatment. The objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of photobiomodulation in the production of saliva in patients with xerostomia induced by antihypertensive drugs. The method consists in the application of the low intensity laser in the three pairs of salivary glands - parotid, submandibular and sublingual. The parameters that will be used are: Laser Diode ArGaAl, DMC, 808nm, 4J per point, continuously and in contact with the irradiated surface, resulting in irradiance of 3571 mW/cm2, distributed as follows: 6 points in each parotid, 2 points in each sublingual (external) and two in each submandibular (internal), totaling 16 extra oral and 4 intra oral, totaling 20 points. The exposure time will be 40s per point, corresponding to 800s per session and 3600s at the end of the four treatment sessions. The radiant exposure will be 142J/cm2. The control group will have a simulation of the application of the laser, with the device turned off. Because it is an infrared light, it is invisible and this will not induce the patient to notice that the device is turned off. In the group that receives the photobiomodulation the device will have its timer turned off, to avoid the perception of sound difference. At the end of the sessions, a sample of saliva will be collected, which will be compared to the initial sample.