| [ Summary ] |
Dialysis patients have many dental complications such as periodontal disease, xerostomia, and taste disorders. These complications induce tooth loss and mastication disorders, resulting in reduced quality of life and aggravation of systemic conditions. Periodontal diseases affect systemic conditions. In diabetes patients with periodontitis, inflammatory factors such as TNF-α and IL-1β may be a cause of increased insulin resistance. It is reported that periodontal therapy may actually decrease HbA1c levels in diabetes patients. Since dialysis patients are likely to be elderly and receiving ongoing medications due to complications, age-related and drug-associated oral diseases frequently occur. In general, the number of dental caries and frequency of periodontal disease increase with age and are more severe in dialysis patients. It is possible that drug induced gingival overgrowth, a side effect of nifedipine and cyclosporine-A treatment, may occur in dialysis patients with hypertension and/or immune diseases. Bisphosphonate related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ) is also a serious disease observed in oral tissues. Oral care is very important for dialysis patients to prevent oral and systemic diseases. |