Abstract
Individuals with mental illness often cannot perform day to day activities due to a psychiatric or emotional disorder. Schizophrenia is one such psychiatric disorder characterized by worsening self-care ability with progressing mental illness. This disease may potentially deteriorate oral health by affecting the subject's ability to perform oral hygiene measures. Literature on oral disease manifestations in schizophrenia is limited. Lack of desire for oral health care as well as generally poor awareness of oral health issues in these patients, compounded further by side effects of medications, may complicate dental management in schizophrenic patients. The present review explores clinical features and possible factors associated with oral health status among those with Schizophrenia.
Highlights
Diseases affecting the oral cavity are frequently neglected or under diagnosed; having a great impact on an individual’s health in the long term [1]
Oral health care is of particular concern in mentally challenged and institutionalized patients, as poor oral hygiene socially excludes these patients and predisposes them to various other systemic health problems like respiratory infections and cardiac diseases
The diagnostic criteria put forward by the World Health Organization and the American Psychiatric Association are widely used for the diagnosis of schizophrenia
Summary
Diseases affecting the oral cavity are frequently neglected or under diagnosed; having a great impact on an individual’s health in the long term [1]. The reasons for infrequent dental visits in schizophrenics and patients with mental illness have been observed as lack of drive to maintain self-care, due to poor general health, inability to meet cost of treatment and low priority for dental check-up, unless, in case of emergency[34,35]. Dental care associated behavior assessment in 372 psychiatric inpatients showed that these patients have less impetus to visit a dentist They brushed their teeth for shorter periods and did not realize that oral health may have an influence on their general health condition [34]. Health care professionals should be trained and updated regarding the oral diseases, side effects of medications, and possibility of dental treatment for these chronically ill patients. Schizophrenic patients should not be refused treatment on grounds of inability to maintain oral hygiene
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call