Tooth loss in Sjögren's syndrome patients compared to age and gender matched controls.

F Maarse,D-H-J Jager,J Wolff,H-S Brand,T Forouzanfar

doi:10.4317/medoral.22545

Abstract

BackgroundTo analyze the prevalence and location of tooth loss in Sjögren’s syndrome (SS) patients and compare them with an age- and gender-matched control group.Material and MethodsDental charts and x-rays of 108 (SS) patients were retrieved from an academic dental center and special care dentistry department. For each SS patient, an age- and gender-matched non-SS patient was randomly selected. Medication, number of extractions and date and location of extractions were assessed. Differences between SS and non-SS patients were analyzed using Mann-Whitney U tests, Chi-square tests and Fisher’s exact tests.ResultsSignificantly more SS patients were edentulous compared to the non-SS group (14.8% versus 1.9%, p = 0.001). SS patients had a 61% higher risk to have experienced one or more extractions than control patients. In the SS group, there was a non-significant tendency for more maxillary teeth to have been extracted than mandibular teeth (42:34). In the control group, the number of extractions in the maxilla and mandible were comparable (21:20). When divided into sextants, the number of SS patients with one or more extractions was significantly higher than for non-SS patients for each sextant (p = 0.001 to p = 0.032). The largest difference in the proportion of patients with one or more extractions between the SS and non-SS patients occurred in the upper anterior sextant (3.4 times more frequent).ConclusionsSS patients are more prone to experience dental extractions compared to patients without SS. It could be speculated that this is related to a decreased salivary secretion. Key words:Sjögren’s syndrome, dentition, edentulism, extractions, dental health.

Highlights

Sjögren’s syndrome (SS) is a progressive autoimmune disorder that causes chronic inflammation and irreversible damage to the exocrine glands [1]
This study demonstrated that SS patients are more prone to tooth loss than individuals not diagnosed with Sjögren’s syndrome
The results of this study shows that extractions are more prone in some area’s in others with the highest number of extractions in the anterior maxilla

Summary

Introduction

Sjögren’s syndrome (SS) is a progressive autoimmune disorder that causes chronic inflammation and irreversible damage to the exocrine glands [1]. The aim of this study was to evaluate tooth loss in SS patients and compare this to a non-SS age- and gender-matched control group. The study population comprised 108 SS patients and a control group of 107 age and gender matched non-SS patients. In order to prevent incorrect transfer of patient data from the medical records to the case report forms, random checks were performed prior to data entry. The mean number of extractions were significantly higher in the SS group (3.18 ± 6.33 versus 0.77 ± 1.77) versus the control group These results were found both in the maxilla (1.75 ± 3.54 versus 0.38 ± 1.04) and the mandible (1.43 ± 3.11 versus 0.38 ± 1.04) (Table 2). The number of extractions per sextant was significantly higher in the SS group when compared with the control group (Table 2). (*) - Xerogenic medication with side effects or other negative side effects on the teeth

Discussion

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Conclusion