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Dental health of patients with Parkinson's disease in Iceland
Author(s) -
Einarsdóttir Erna Rún,
Gunnsteinsdóttir Hallfrídur,
Hallsdóttir Margrét Huld,
Sveinsson Sigurjón,
Jónsdóttir Sonja Rut,
Olafsson Vilhelm Grétar,
Bragason Thorvaldur Halldór,
Sæmundsson Sigurdur Rúnar,
Holbrook William Peter
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
special care in dentistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.328
H-Index - 41
eISSN - 1754-4505
pISSN - 0275-1879
DOI - 10.1111/j.1754-4505.2009.00075.x
Subject(s) - medicine , dental floss , spouse , dentistry , dental health , saliva , oral health , mastication , physical examination , oral examination , disease , sociology , anthropology
The oral and dental health of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) has not been well documented and the findings are conflicting. Patients with PD were invited to take part in a clinical and radiographic examination together with a comparison control group of persons who were a spouse or family member. Subjects (n = 67) and controls (n = 55) were examined and compared. Subjects with PD had more missing teeth, caries, dental plaque, and poorer periodontal health. Counts of cariogenic bacteria in saliva were significantly higher for subjects with PD. They did not consume more sweets or sugar, did not brush less frequently, used dental floss more than controls, and visited the dentist at least as often. Salivary flow levels were comparable between subjects with PD and controls. The lack of muscular control may explain the poorer oral health of patients with PD. Dentists and patients with PD may be reluctant to embark on complex dental procedures, and this may explain the increased number of missing teeth in persons with PD in this study.