Journal of Disability and Oral Health

cover art

Cover Date:
June 2010
Print ISSN:
1470-8558
Vol:
11
Issue:
2

Dental care in multiple sclerosis: an overlooked and under-assessed condition

Abstract Aims and objectives: Conditions affecting the oral cavity of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) are rarely reported. However, teeth are a frequent source of infection, which may ultimately worsen MS. The present work assessed MS patients and controls in order to evaluate the dental conditions of both populations. Design: Twenty-one MS patients underwent clinical and radiological oral investigation and the results were compared with those of a gender and age-matched control group. Results: MS patients had significantly higher rates of tooth loss (p=0.035), silent infection (p<0.001) and temporomandibular dysfunction (p=0.003) than controls. Anatomical changes in CT scans of the temporomandibular joint were more frequently found in patients than in controls (p=0.004). Temporomandibular dysfunction did not correlate with tooth loss or dental infections. Teeth grinding was present in 40.9% of the patients in comparison to 22.7% of controls. Parafunctional habits (such as nail and lip biting) were observed in 54.5% of patients, and in 27.2% of controls. Conclusions: MS patients presented very poor oral status. Despite strong recommendations for an interdisciplinary team caring for Brazilian MS patients, a dentist is not usually integrated into this professional health group. At the moment, the oral condition of MS patients is under-assessed and overlooked.

Key words: Multiple sclerosis, temporomandibular disorders, dental care

Article Price
£15.00
Institution Article Price
£
Page Start
53
Page End
56
Authors
Yara Dadalti Fragoso, Heloisa Helena Carvalho Alves, Letícia Carvalho Alves, Natalia Carvalho Alves, Célia Maria Siqueira de Andrade, Alessandro Finkelsztejn

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