Association of psychosis and oral health: case-control study.

Abstract

Objectives: Roughly one in eight individuals presents with psychiatric disorders which were proposed to significantly affect oral health. This study compared oral health of 112 patients (mean 28 years), 31 with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD) or 33 with major depression/bipolar disorders (MDD/BD) to 52 healthy controls (HCG).

Materials and methods: Oral health parameters, including caries experience (decayed-missed-filled teeth/surfaces-index DMFT/DMFS), the presence of plaque (plaque-index PI) and periodontal health (bleeding on probing BOP, periodontal probing depths PPD%), were evaluated by examiners blinded to psychiatric diagnoses. Descriptive statistics summarized demographic and clinical data. Group differences and associations with dental outcomes were analyzed using Chi-square or Mann-Whitney-U tests. Logistic regression identified predictors of oral health.

Results: Patients with SSD or MDD/BD resented with significantly oorer oral health than HCG regarding DMFT (SSD = 9; MDD/BD = 10; HCG = 2), DMFS (SSD = 10; MDD/BD = 12; HCG = 1), PI (SSD = 2; MDD/BD = 2; HCG = 1), BOP (SSD = 20%; MDD/BD = 17%; HCG = 3)% and PPD% (SSD = 1%; MDD/BD = 0%; HCG = 0%) and smoked more often. Differences regarding dental anxiety were not significant (p = 0.112). Subgroup analysis showed no differences between SSD and MDD/BD.

Conclusions: SSD and MDD/BD and smoking are key contributors to poor dental health shown by significantly worse DMFT, DMFS and PI, BOP. Probably this might additionally be enhanced by concomitant medication, with multiple psychiatric medication being associated with poorer oral health regarding DMFT, PI and BOP.

Clinical relevance: Routine dental care and personalized oral hygiene training to address disease-specific risks are desirable for individuals with SSD or MDD/BD.