Edmonton: Deborah
Berry had visited numerous health-care professionals, but no one was
able to accurately diagnose and treat the many lumps and cuts on the
inside of her mouth. Berry, who suffers from systemic lupus
erythematosus, eventually just accepted it as a possible side-effect of
her health condition. But a visit to the oral pathology clinic in the University of Alberta’s School of Dentistry—the only one in Alberta—quickly changed all that. She had come to the general practice clinic for a teeth cleaning. But
after a quick oral exam by her dental hygienist, Berry found her way to
oral pathologists Ed Peters and clinical professor Seema Ganatra, and
found the answers she’d been looking for. Berry was diagnosed with xerostomia, more commonly known as dry
mouth. If left untreated, it can often lead to or be a sign of other
lingering health problems. Dry mouth most often results from a decrease
in saliva produced by the salivary glands in your mouth.
