Prevalence of oral diseases in severe psoriatic patients: A cross-sectional study.

Abstract

Background: Psoriasis is a prevalent chronic inflammatory disorder that affects multiple systems. While the skin and joint symptoms of this condition are well established, the existence of oral manifestations associated with psoriasis is still debated.

Aim: The aim of our study is to determine the presence of oral abnormalities in patients with severe psoriasis and their association with the clinical characteristics of the disease.

Materials and method: We conducted a study involving patients clinically diagnosed with severe psoriasis and a healthy control group. The focus of the study was the detection of abnormal oral mucosa during the initial visit. These included presence of fissured tongue, geographic tongue, periodontitis, angular cheilitis, fibroma, denture stomatitis. Secondary variables were age and gender.

Results: Patients with severe psoriasis showed a higher occurrence of oral mucosal lesions compared to the control group. Our study showed a higher prevalence of fissured tongue, geographic tongue and periodontitis in psoriasis group as compared to the control group. Other oral lesions like Angular cheilitis, fibroma, denture stomatitis had relatively low prevalence in psoriasis group vs control group.

Conclusion: Individuals with psoriasis exhibit a higher prevalence of oral abnormalities, particularly fissured tongue, geographic tongue, and periodontitis. Thus, we believe that oral examinations are essential for all psoriasis patients. Routine oral assessments should be conducted irrespective of the onset, type, or location of the psoriasis. In uncertain cases, a biopsy may assist in achieving a precise diagnosis. Early identification and intervention could enhance the quality of life for these patients.