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CDHO Advisory: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

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CDHO ADVISORY

SCOPE

RECOMMENDATIONS

BENEFITS/HARMS OF IMPLEMENTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS

CONTRAINDICATIONS

COLLEGE OF DENTAL HYGIENISTS OF ONTARIO ADVISORY

ADVISORY TITLE

Use of the dental hygiene interventions of scaling of teeth and root planing including curetting surrounding tissue, orthodontic and restorative practices, and other invasive interventions for persons1 with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

ADVISORY STATUS

Cite as College of Dental Hygienists of Ontario, CDHO Advisory Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, 2023-03-25

INTERVENTIONS AND PRACTICES CONSIDERED

Scaling of teeth and root planing including curetting surrounding tissue, orthodontic and restorative practices, and other invasive interventions (“the Procedures”).

SCOPE

DISEASE/CONDITION(S)/PROCEDURE(S)

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

INTENDED USERS

Advanced practice nurses
Dental assistants
Dental hygienists
Dentists
Denturists
Dieticians
Health professional students
Nurses
Patients/clients
Pharmacists
Physicians
Public health departments
Regulatory bodies

ADVISORY OBJECTIVE(S)

To guide dental hygienists at the point of care relative to the use of the Procedures for persons who have amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, chiefly as follows.

  1. Understanding the medical condition.
  2. Sourcing medications information.
  3. Taking the medical and medications history.
  4. Identifying and contacting the most appropriate healthcare provider(s) for medical advice.
  5. Understanding and taking appropriate precautions prior to and during the Procedures proposed.
  6. Deciding when and when not to proceed with the Procedures proposed.
  7. Dealing with adverse events arising during the Procedures.
  8. Keeping records.
  9. Advising the patient/client.

TARGET POPULATION

Adult (19 to 44 years)
Middle Age (45 to 64 years)
Aged (65 to 79 years)
Aged, 80 and over
Male
Female
Parents, guardians, and family caregivers of children, young persons and adults with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

MAJOR OUTCOMES CONSIDERED

For persons who have amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: to maximize health benefits and minimize adverse effects by promoting the performance of the Procedures at the right time with the appropriate precautions, and by discouraging the performance of the Procedures at the wrong time or in the absence of appropriate precautions.

RECOMMENDATIONS

UNDERSTANDING THE MEDICAL CONDITION

Terminology used in this Advisory

Resources consulted

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis 

  1. is also called 
    1. Lou Gehrig’s disease
    2. ALS
    3. upper and lower motor neuron disease
    4. motor neuron disease.
  2. is a rapidly progressive, invariably fatal neurological disease 
    1. that attacks in the brain and spinal cord the neurons that control voluntary muscle movement
    2. in which the neurons
      1. waste away or die
      2. eventually are no longer able to send the neural messages to muscles, leading to 
        1. muscle weakening, twitching, and inability to move the arms, legs, and body
        2. loss of the ability to breathe.

Other terminology used in this Advisory is as follows.

  1. Acute respiratory acidosis, occurs following abrupt failure of ventilation, and which may be caused by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and other neuromuscular diseases.
  2. Apnea, a period of time during which breathing stops or is markedly reduced.
  3. Disinhibition, undue impulsiveness and recklessness in social situations. 
  4. Dysarthria, speech disorder caused by impairment of the muscles involved in speaking.
  5. Dyspnea, shortness of breath at rest.
  6. Executive deficit, impairment of executive functions that 
    1. comprise cognitive abilities to control and regulate abilities and behaviours
    2. are necessary for goal-directed behaviour, such as
      1. starting and stopping actions
      2. monitoring and changing behaviour as needed
      3. planning future behaviour in response to novel tasks and situations
      4. anticipating outcomes and adapting to changing situations
      5. forming concepts and thinking abstractly. 
  7. Fasciculations, muscle twitches that 
    1. are fine movements of a small area of muscle
    2. may be signs of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
  8. Flaccidity, lack of tone of muscular or other tissue.
  9. Frontotemporal dementia, a progressive neurological condition caused by degeneration of the frontal and/or anterior temporal lobes, that 
    1. seems to be associated with dementia (CDHO Advisory), a complication, comorbidity or associated condition of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
    2. results in personality, behavioural, and cognitive changes
    3. occurs in a small percentage of persons with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
  10. Hyporeflexia, reduced functioning of reflexes.
  11. Hyperorality, changes in eating habits, which in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis may 
    1. include carbohydrate cravings
    2. include profound changes in the style of eating such as 
      1. loss of table manners
      2. eating beyond the point of satiety
    3. result in weight gain, which 
      1. counteracts the weight loss associated with the muscle wasting associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
      2. may even be life threatening
    4. result in coughing and choking episodes during eating and drinking.
  12. Hyperreflexia, exaggerated response of the tendon reflexes.
  13. Neurons are
    1. cells of the nervous system that are specialized to carry electrochemical messages
    2. classified by the direction in which they send the messages
      1. sensory neurons, also called afferent neurons, that send messages from sensory receptors to the central nervous system
      2. motor neurons, also called efferent neurons, that
        1. send messages from the central nervous system to muscles or glands
        2. comprise
          1. upper motor neurons, which reside in the part of the brain’s cortex that governs movement
          2. lower motor neurons, which reside in the spinal cord
    3. include interneurons, which transmit messages between sensory neurons and motor neurons.
  14. Sialorrhea, excess saliva

Overview of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Resources consulted

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

  1. presents a clinical picture of a devastating neurodegenerative disease which
    1. causes progressive paralysis by degeneration and death of motor neurons, which cease sending messages to particular muscles
    2. prevents muscles from functioning, which leads to their weakening, wasting, and twitching.
  2. affects
    1. over 350,000 of the world’s population, and kills more than 100,000 people every year
    2. about 5 out of every 100,000 people worldwide
    3. some 2,500–3,000 Canadians
    4. people of all races and ethnic backgrounds
    5. men more often than women.
  3. occurs 
    1. most commonly between 40 and 70 years of age, but may also develop earlier
    2. apparently at random without known cause or clearly associated risk factors in 90 to 95 percent of all cases, which is called the sporadic form, and in which
      1. there is no family history of the condition
      2. family members of an affected person are not considered to be at increased risk 
    3. as an inherited condition in about 5 to 10 percent of all cases, which is called the familial form, and which usually results from a pattern of inheritance that requires only one parent to carry the gene responsible for the condition. 
  4. creates signs and symptoms that
    1. do not usually develop until after age 50, though these may start earlier
    2. in the earliest manifestations of
      1. are often so minor that they are frequently overlooked
      2. include some combination of
        1. muscle twitching, cramping, or stiffness 
        2. muscle weakness affecting an arm or a leg
        3. slurred and nasal speech
        4. difficulty chewing or swallowing
    3. progress to more noticeable effects, the nature of which depends on the muscles that are first involved, and which may variously
      1. involve one leg, resulting in
        1. awkwardness in walking or running
        2. tripping or stumbling more often
      2. involve one hand or arm, resulting in difficulty with simple tasks requiring manual dexterity, such as
        1. fastening buttons
        2. writing
        3. turning a key in a lock
      3. affect speech 
    4. advance as muscle weakness and atrophy spread to other parts of the body, resulting variously in growing evidence of 
      1. effects of upper motor neuron degeneration on
        1. muscles and reflexes, such as
          1. spasticity
          2. hyperreflexia
          3. contractures
        2. mouth and throat, such as
          1. dysarthria
          2. overactive gag reflex
          3. dysphagia 
          4. sialorrhea 
        3. dyspnea
        4. excessive fatigue
        5. weight loss
      2. effects of lower motor neuron degeneration, such as
        1. muscle weakness and atrophy that involves the diaphragm
        2. muscle cramps
        3. fasciculations 
        4. hyporeflexia
        5. flaccidity
    5. development to the point at which the person 
      1. is unable to 
        1. stand
        2. walk
        3. get in or out of bed unaided
        4. use the hands and arms
        5. eat normally, resulting in
          1. risk of choking
          2. problems maintaining weight
      2. becomes anxious and depressed because of the progressive loss of function 
      3. may variously
        1. have unaffected cognitive abilities 
        2. develop problems with memory or decision-making
        3. display emotional liability manifested as uncontrollable, often inappropriate laughing or crying
        4. develop a dementia-related condition (CDHO Advisory)
      4. has reached the stage at which the respiratory muscles have weakened so much that
        1. the ability to breathe unassisted is lost
        2. survival depends on ventilator support 
        3. pneumonia becomes a significant risk.
  5. is investigated clinically 
    1. only with difficulty because amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
      1. has yet to yield a reliable biological marker of an abnormality shared by all persons with the condition
      2. exhibits symptoms similar to those of various other, more treatable disorders
    2. with 
      1. examinations of 
        1. muscle 
          1. strength and endurance
          2. tremors, spasms, and twitching
          3. atrophy
        2. functions such as
          1. walking
          2. controlling of crying or laughing
      2. tests, such as
        1. respiratory function 
        2. CT or MRI 
        3. electromyography 
        4. genetic testing for a family history of the condition
        5. nerve conduction 
        6. swallowing studies.
  6. is treated 
    1. symptomatically because it lacks 
      1. a known cure
      2. sustained effective treatment2
      3. explanation of why it strikes some persons and not others
    2. ideally by multidisciplinary teams of healthcare professionals all working to an individualized care plan, with the intention of 
      1. relieving symptoms
      2. maintaining mobility
      3. promoting independence
      4. improving quality of life
      5. strengthening unaffected muscles
      6. improving cardiovascular health
      7. alleviating fatigue and depression
      8. preventing painful spasticity and shortening of muscles
      9. maintaining nourishment with foods that are easy to swallow
      10. avoiding choking
      11. maintaining oral health
      12. improving the loudness and clarity of speech
      13. recommending assistive devices such as
        1. ramps, braces, walkers, and wheelchairs that help persons conserve energy and remain mobile
        2. aids for maintaining oral health
        3. suction for removal of excess fluids and saliva
        4. in-dwelling feeding tubes
        5. speech synthesisers
        6. ventilators 
    3. by providing information support for persons and family caregivers, including
      1. explanations of the course of the condition
      2. descriptions of available treatment options 
      3. discussion of options in the final stages of the condition with the loss of the ability to breathe without ventilator support 
      4. advice in obtaining financial aid, arranging durable power of attorney, preparing a living will, and finding support groups for persons and family caregivers 
      5. techniques in the use of devices
      6. advice for end-of-life situations. 
  7. is compounded by comorbidities, complications and associated conditions.
  8. presents a negative prognosis when expressed 
    1. as the pattern of development, which
      1. starts with local involvement
      2. progresses to 
        1. quadriplegia
        2. inability to speak, swallow and ultimately to breathe 
    2. as life expectancy, which reflects experience that
      1. death commonly occurs from respiratory failure within 3–5 years of the onset of symptoms
      2. 25 percent survive for 5 years or more years
      3. 10 percent survive for 10 or more years 
    3. as negative prognostic indicators, which include 
      1. dementia (CDHO Advisory)
      2. comorbid frontotemporal dementia 
      3. executive dysfunction in persons with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis but without dementia.
  9. invokes challenging social considerations that involve
    1. emotional support, which is essential for the person in making end-of-life decisions about such matters as ventilation support
    2. family caregiving, which is physically, mentally and even financially exhausting
    3. support groups in
      1. Canada
      2. US

Comorbidity, complications and associated conditions

Comorbid conditions are those which co-exist with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis but which are not believed to be caused by it. Complications and associated conditions are those that may have some link with it. Distinguishing among comorbid conditions, complications and associated conditions may be difficult in clinical practice. 

Comorbid conditions, complications and associated conditions of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis include

  1. aspiration of food or fluid 
  2. dysphagia
  3. loss of ability for self-care
  4. impairment of interpersonal interactions and relationships
  5. loss of mobility
  6. respiratory complications
    1. acute respiratory acidosis
    2. respiratory failure
    3. pneumonia
  7. pressure sores
  8. weight changes
    1. loss due to muscle wasting
    2. excessive gain in weight due to hyperorality
  9. cognitive and behavioural complications when amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, dementia (CDHO Advisory) and frontotemporal dementia are comorbid, which produces changes that
    1. vary in their effects from mild to profound
    2. variously include
      1. aggression, with moodiness, frustration, or anger
      2. apathy, depression and fatigue
      3. emotional changes, including
        1. blunting of emotional reactions
        2. lack of concern or empathy for the welfare of others
        3. self-centeredness
      4. executive deficits
      5. irritability
      6. loss of insight
      7. poor judgment and impulsivity
      8. rigidity and compulsivity
      9. social disinhibition

Oral health considerations

Resources consulted

For amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, good dental hygiene practice

  1. may require immediate action during oral healthcare in response to adverse events resulting from rapidly developing changes in the patient/client’s clinical condition manifested by one or more of
    1. increased difficulty in swallowing
    2. difficulty breathing
    3. apnea.
  2. is important for all persons with the condition as it progresses and for whom the earliest symptoms may be difficulty chewing or swallowing.
  3. requires particular consideration for persons receiving all their nutrition and fluids via feeding tubes with the aim of 
    1. maintaining oral health generally
    2. reducing production of harmful oral bacteria 
    3. reducing the risk of pneumonia from aspiration of food, fluids or transient bacteria found in the mouth.
  4. includes consideration for the special challenges that the condition introduces, including
    1. increasing difficulty for the person and eventually also the caregiver in performing oral care 
    2. effects of the disease on
      1. arms and hands, making reaching up to the mouth fatiguing, strenuous, or impossible for the person
      2. swallowing, which may become impaired to the extent that excess water and toothpaste in the mouth may create a choking risk
    3. malfunction of the gag reflex
    4. exaggerated reflexes.
  5. includes consideration of drooling, which
    1. arises because the person’s management of the normal production of saliva is impaired by reduced control of tongue, lips, and swallowing
    2. is not caused by excessive production of saliva, though leakage from poor lip seal may give the appearance of excessive production
    3. results in pooling of saliva anteriorly, a position in which the swallowing process is not fully triggered
    4. may result in accumulation of saliva and mucus sufficient to disrupt sleep and increase choking risk
    5. may be managed with glycopyrrolate, atropine, amitriptyline, or scopolamine patches which may produce side effects of 
      1. dryness of the mouth
      2. constipation
    6. may require the use of a portable suction device.
  6. may be a factor in reducing the risk of choking on thick mucus, which can be life-threatening, and thereby help avoid the need for secretion management by tracheotomy.
  7. should be considered for edentulous patients/clients, who should receive routine inspections of the oral cavity to ensure that existing oral disease does not progress or that poor oral health does not ensue.
  8. may involve consideration of reduction of intake of dairy products if these appear to be undermining oral health.
  9. should emphasize and support the role of the family caregiver, whose tasks include
    1. communicating openly and effectively with the person, especially as 
      1. the person’s actions and activities of daily living come to increasingly rely on the help of family caregivers
      2. persons with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis may have difficulty expressing their needs for oral healthcare
    2. organizing and promoting communications and understanding between the person and all the professional care providers
    3. combating the person’s fatigue, with the aim of maintaining independence and autonomy, necessary elements for the person’s well-being and quality of life 
    4. maintaining oral care as a necessary component of the daily routines, especially as oral care becomes more and more difficult for the person and the family caregiver 
    5. organizing oral healthcare when office visits are difficult or no longer manageable for person and their family caregivers with or without special arrangements, such as
      1. dental office wheelchair accessibility
      2. procedures for providing treatment to patients/clients in wheelchairs
      3. preparation time needed to get client ready prior to appointment
      4. awareness of special needs of the individual patient/client, such as tiring easily during a procedure
      5. acknowledgement of the patient/client’s wishes about the nature and intensity of care provided
      6. provision of oral healthcare for patients/clients at home or in residential facilities.

MEDICATIONS SUMMARY

Sourcing medications information

  1. Adverse effect database
  2. Specialized organizations
  3. Medications considerations
    All medications have potential side effects whether taken alone or in combination with other prescription medications, or as over-the-counter (OTC) or herbal medications.
  4. Information on herbals and supplements 
  5. Complementary and alternative medicine

Types of medications

Medications

  1. to slow the progress of the condition
  2. to relieve swallowing problems, drooling and excess saliva
  3. to relieve muscle stiffness, spasms, cramps and twitching
  4. to combat emotional lability, anxiety, and depression

Side effects of medications

See the links above to the specific medications. 

THE MEDICAL AND MEDICATIONS HISTORY

The dental hygienist in taking the medical  and medications history-taking should 

  1. focus on screening the patient/client prior to treatment decision relative to
    1. key symptoms
    2. medications considerations
    3. contraindications
    4. complications
    5. comorbidities
    6. associated conditions
  2. explore the need for advice from the primary or specialized care provider(s)
  3. inquire about
    1. pointers in the history with particular significance for the Procedures, such as symptoms of problems with swallowing, choking and breathing
    2. the patient/client’s understanding and acceptance of the need for oral healthcare
    3. medications considerations, including over-the-counter medications, herbals and supplements
    4. problems with previous dental/dental hygiene care
    5. problems with infections generally and specifically associated with dental/dental hygiene care
    6. the patient/client’s current state of health
    7. how the patient/client’s current symptoms relate to
      1. oral health
      2. health generally
      3. recent changes in the patient/client’s condition.

IDENTIFYING AND CONTACTING THE MOST APPROPRIATE HEALTHCARE PROVIDER(S) FOR ADVICE

Identifying and contacting the most appropriate healthcare provider(s) from whom to obtain medical or other advice pertinent to a particular patient/client

The dental hygienist should

  1. record the name of the physician/primary care provider most closely associated with the patient/client’s healthcare, and the telephone number
  2. obtain from the patient/client or parent/guardian written, informed consent to contact the identified physician/primary healthcare provider
  3. use a consent/medical consultation form, and be prepared to securely send the form to the provider
  4. include on the form a standardized statement of the Procedures proposed, with a request for advice on proceeding or not at the particular time, and any precautions to be observed.

UNDERSTANDING AND TAKING APPROPRIATE PRECAUTIONS

Infection Control

Dental hygienists are required to keep their practices current with infection control policies and procedures, especially in relation to

  1. the CDHO’s Infection Prevention and Control Guidelines (2022)
  2. relevant occupational health and safety legislative requirements
  3. relevant public health legislative requirements
  4. best practices or other protocols specific to the medical condition of the patient/client.

DECIDING WHEN AND WHEN NOT TO INITIATE THE PROCEDURES PROPOSED

For a patient/client whose condition is well controlled, there is no contraindication to the procedures though, as muscle weakness and control deteriorates, the Procedures and dental hygiene management techniques will need to be adapted. 

With a patient/client whose symptoms are under control and whose treatment is proceeding normally, the dental hygienist should implement the Procedures, though these may be postponed pending medical advice, which may be required if the patient/client has

  1. symptoms or signs or a history of swallowing, choking or breathing problems
  2. comorbidity, complication or an associated condition of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
  3. not recently or ever sought and received medical advice relative to oral healthcare procedures
  4. recently changed significant medications, under medical advice or otherwise
  5. recently experienced changes in his/her medical condition such as medication or other side effects of treatment
  6. deep concerns about any aspect of his or her medical condition.

DEALING WITH ANY ADVERSE EVENTS ARISING DURING THE PROCEDURES

Dental hygienists are required to initiate emergency protocols as required by the College of Dental Hygienists of Ontario’s Standards of Practice, and as appropriate for the condition of the patient/client.

First-aid provisions and responses as required for current certification in first aid.

RECORD KEEPING

Subject to Ontario Regulation 9/08 Part III.1, Records, in particular S 12.1 (1) and (2) for a patient/client with a history of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, the dental hygienist should specifically record

  1. a summary of the medical and medications history
  2. any advice received from the physician/primary care provider relative to the patient/client’s condition
  3. the decision made by the dental hygienist, with reasons
  4. compliance with the precautions required
  5. all Procedure(s) used
  6. any advice given to the patient/client.

ADVISING THE PATIENT/CLIENT

As appropriate, discuss with the patient/client and family caregiver

  1. oral hygiene and the role of food particles and bacterial plaque in causing gingivitis and tooth decay
  2. preventive program components such as bacterial plaque control, fluorides, pit and fissure sealants, diet counseling, and appropriate intervals for follow-up 
  3. regimens and techniques for use by the family caregiver that
    1. emphasize maintaining an infection-free environment through hand-washing and, if appropriate, wearing gloves
    2. support brushing the person’s teeth when her or she is confined to a wheelchair
    3. reflect the needs of persons at an advanced stage of the condition
    4. provide an important component of supportive care and palliative care
  4. use of assistive devices, such as 
    1. electric toothbrushes, relative to hand and arm weakness 
    2. portable suction devices for swallowing difficulties sufficient to preclude conventional brushing 
  5. flossing, which may be a greater challenge than brushing, and flossing alternatives
  6. mouth rinses, of the various types, with recognition that swallowing difficulties may limit or preclude their use
  7. the importance and techniques of denture care, especially with decline in control of the musculature of the cheeks and tongue leading to potential accumulation of unswallowed food, bacterial and fungal growth 
  8. changes in saliva production associated with medications or with breathing through the mouth, and use of saliva substitutes 
  9. the negative oral health consequences of a softer diet introduced to compensate for weakening of the swallowing musculature, which may require increased attention to oral hygiene
  10. the positive role of oral care in conjunction with assisted ventilation, with reference to the prevention of pneumonia or other respiratory infection
  11. scheduling and duration of appointments for patients/clients when tiring and fatigue are to be considered, including home care
  12. comfort level while reclining, and stress and anxiety related to the Procedures
  13. mouth ulcers and other conditions of the mouth relating to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, comorbidities, medications or diet
  14. infection control within the oral cavity
  15. pain management.

BENEFITS/HARMS OF IMPLEMENTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS

POTENTIAL BENEFITS

  1. Promoting health through oral hygiene for persons who have amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
  2. Reducing the adverse effects, such as stress and exacerbation of fatigue, by
    1. generally increasing the comfort level of persons in the course of dental hygiene interventions 
    2. using appropriate techniques of communication
    3. providing advice on scheduling and duration of appointments.
  3. Providing support for the family caregivers of persons with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
  4. Reducing the risk that oral health needs are unmet.

POTENTIAL HARMS

  1. Causing a choking emergency.
  2. Performing the Procedures at an inappropriate time, such as 
    1. in the absence of clear understanding of the patient/client’s needs and preferences
    2. in the presence of a history indicative of the need for prior medical advice, especially 
      1. swallowing, choking or breathing difficulties
      2. acute oral infection.
  3. Disturbing the normal dietary and medications routine of a person with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
  4. Inappropriate management of pain or medication.

CONTRAINDICATIONS

CONTRAINDICATIONS IN REGULATIONS

Identified in the Dental Hygiene Act, 1991 – O. Reg. 218/94 Part III

ORIGINALLY DEVELOPED

2009-09-22

DATE OF LAST REVIEW

2018-07-16; 2023-03-25

ADVISORY DEVELOPER(S)

College of Dental Hygienists of Ontario, regulatory body
Greyhead Associates, medical information service specialists

SOURCE(S) OF FUNDING

College of Dental Hygienists of Ontario

ADVISORY COMITTEE

College of Dental Hygienists of Ontario, Practice Advisors

COMPOSITION OF GROUP THAT AUTHORED THE ADVISORY

Dr Gordon Atherley
O StJ , MB ChB, DIH, MD, MFCM (Royal College of Physicians, UK), FFOM (Royal College of Physicians, UK), FACOM (American College of Occupational Medicine), LLD (hc), FRSA

Dr Kevin Glasgow
MD, MHSc, MBA, DTM&H, CHE, CCFP, DABPM, LFACHE, FCFP, FACPM, FRCPC

Lisa Taylor
RDH, BA, MEd, MCOD

Giulia Galloro
RDH, BSc(DH)

Carolle Lepage
RDH, BEd

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The College of Dental Hygienists of Ontario gratefully acknowledges the Template of Guideline Attributes, on which this advisory is modelled, of The National Guideline Clearinghouse™ (NGC), sponsored by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Denise Lalande
Final layout and proofreading

© 2009, 2011, 2018, 2023 College of Dental Hygienists of Ontario

FOOTNOTES

1 Persons includes young persons and children.
2 Two medications approved by Health Canada for treatment of ALS are riluzole (which inhibits release of glutamate and extends survival time by about 4 months) and edaravone (an antioxidant that may slow the nerve damage associated with worsening of ALS symptoms). A third medication, sodium phenylbutyrate/ ursodoxicoltaurine (AMX0035), was approved with conditions by Health Canada in 2022. AMX0035, a histone deacetylase inhibitor, is believed to reduce endoplasmic reticulum stress that may contribute to motor neuron degeneration in ALS.