A personal exploration of oral health in Parkinson's disease through the eyes of a multifaceted authority.

Abstract

Parkinson's disease (PD) poses a range of challenges, including oral health issues, that significantly impact the patient's quality of life. Despite growing awareness of PD, oral health receives limited attention. To shed light on this matter, this personal scoping review explores the perspectives of Professor K.G. Raphael, who is both a professional and a PD patient, on various aspects of oral health in PD. Through semi-structured interviews, Prof. Raphael shares her insights on the complexities of oral health as a PD patient to compose an agenda for oral health care, research, and education, for PD patients. She emphasises the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and education. Additionally, Prof. Raphael identifies crucial research areas, such as exploring the role of the oral microbiome and assessing the impact of exercise on oral health in PD. This study resulted in agendas to improve oral health care, research and education, advocating for a holistic approach to enhance PD patients' well-being. Despite its limitations, this study highlights the imperative of integrating oral health into the broader management of PD, emphasising interdisciplinary collaboration and patient empowerment.