A Dental Crown for Patients with Schizophrena

Abstract

Schizophrenia is a heterogeneous group of disorders with variable presentation in thought disturbances and disorganized behaviors[1]. Psychological and behavioral manifestations in patients affect concentration, perception, and ideation to the extent that social and occupational functioning is impaired[2]. Symptoms include hallucinations, disorganized thinking, perceptual disturbances, severe anxiety, and difficulty completing tasks. This complex mental disorder afflicts 1.1% (2.4 million) of the U.S. population which constitutes approximately 10% of the disabled[3,4]. Although schizophrenia affects men and women equally, the onset is typically between 18 to 24 in males and 24 to 34 in females[2,4]. Patients are usually treated with firstor second-generation antipsychotic medications[3]. Long-term use of these medications is often required in addition to continuous support from caregivers and/or family members as about half of all people with schizophrenia have significant impairment in self-care skills[4]. Advanced dental disease seen in schizophrenia patients is due to several factors. The severe and persistent mental illness (SPMI) not only impairs the ability to carry out tasks for maintaining oral hygiene, but antipsychotic medication is known to produce adverse oral effects. Additionally, there are financial barriers to the access of dental care as well as an inadequate number of dentists comfortable with treating schizophrenia patients[5,6]. This paper addresses barriers to dental care by reviewing aspects of a dental crown that would promote oral health in individuals suffering from schizophrenia.