Dental conditions in patients with bipolar disorder on long-term lithium maintenance therapy.
Bipolar disorder (manic depressive disease) affects 1% of the United States population. These persons suffer from episodes of extreme elation followed by long periods of depression. Dental screening examinations of 40 patients consecutively admitted to the medical center with this diagnosis were performed. Poor oral hygiene, accumulations of supragingival and subgingival calculus, extensive dental caries, and numerous missing teeth were commonly identified. The majority of patients with bipolar disorder are treated with lithium carbonate. The physiological effects of lithium, and its interaction with drugs used in dentistry are reviewed, and disease-specific modifications in dental treatment are recommended.
Friedlander
A H
AH
School of Dentistry, University of California, Los Angeles, USA.
Birch
N J
NJ
D000328:Adult; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018692:Antimanic Agents / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004245:DMF Index; D003728:Dental Calculus / Q000145:classification; D017742:Dental Care for Chronically Ill; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000145:classification; D005260:Female; D005891:Gingivitis / Q000145:classification; D006801:Humans; D007575:Jaw, Edentulous / Q000145:classification; D007576:Jaw, Edentulous, Partially / Q000145:classification; D016651:Lithium Carbonate / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D014076:Tooth Diseases / Q000145:classification*; D016388:Tooth Loss / Q000145:classification; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000145:classification
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D018692:Antimanic Agents; D016651:Lithium Carbonate