Sammanfattning
Drooling both results in reduced quality of life and poses a significant health risk in the form of
infections of the upper and lower respiratory tract. It takes place in the daytime outside meals and is
mostly due to decreased swallowing function rather than regular hypersalivation. The dentist is part
of an interdisciplinary collaboration around these patients. Clinically the first step is to perform a
preliminary investigation and make a referral to the patient’s physician. Currently, the best
documented treatment is injections of botulinum toxin in the major salivary glands, carried out by
neurologists in a hospital setting. After the start of the drooling treatment that will reduce saliva
secretion considerably, the dentist should help to prevent and treat oral side effects, which is
predominantly accelerated caries progression and microbial overgrowth in the mouth.