title: A preliminary study into the dental health status of multiple sclerosis patients.
abstract: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory disease of unknown etiology involving the central nervous system. Since MS affects the whole body, orofacial aspects of the disease must be expected, particularly since loss of muscular coordination may result in a diminished ability to maintain oral hygiene. This preliminary study examined the dental health status of 22 volunteer MS patients. A questionnaire collected data regarding medical and dental histories and socio-demographic information. Extra- and intra-oral examinations were carried out on all subjects to determine the particular dental treatment needs of this special group. The DMFT and CPITN scores for this group did not indicate that MS patients were more susceptible to dental caries or periodontal disease. However, the prevalence of trigeminal neuralgia and symptoms of TMJ dysfunction in the group studied indicated that these conditions may be manifest in MS patients and warrant further investigations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentistry, University of Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Symons
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bortolanza
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Godden
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Seymour
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia; D004245:DMF Index; D017742:Dental Care for Chronically Ill; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000209:etiology; D003733:Dental Caries Susceptibility; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D010512:Periodontal Index; D010865:Pilot Projects; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D014277:Trigeminal Neuralgia / Q000209:etiology