Oral health status of Southern Chinese with systemic sclerosis

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To study oral health status and oral features of Southern Chinese with Systemic Sclerosis in Hong Kong. METHODS: Southern Chinese with Systemic Sclerosis attending the Rheumatology Clinic, Queen Mary Hospital were invited to this study. They were informed the study purposes and procedures, and were asked to sign a consent. The study comprised of a questionnaire survey and a clinical examination. In the survey, dental service attendance and oral hygiene habits were asked. Mouth opening, caries experience, periodontal and oral mucosal status were assessed during clinical examination. RESULTS: Seventy-seven people were invited and 43 joined this study. Their mean age was 54±12 year. They performed tooth-brushing daily and about one-third had regular dental visit. They all had caries experience with a mean DMFT of 11.4. Twenty-seven participants (66%) had untreated decay. No one was found to be periodontally healthy. Most of them (98%) had calculus and the majority (78%) had periodontal pockets. Oral mucosal telangiectasia was common (81%). Eighteen participants (53%) had reduced maximum mouth opening. CONCLUSIONS: Periodontal pockets and untreated decay were common amongst Southern Chinese with Systemic Sclerosis in Hong Kong. Oral mucosal telangiectasia and reduced maximum mouth opening were also common.