Schizophrenia and oral health: Review of the literature

Abstract

SummaryPatients with schizophrenia, especially during period of their hospitalization, are likely to constitute a high-risk group of individuals with respect to prevalence of oral diseases. Several factors are mentioned in the manuscript that may contribute to the finding of increased prevalence of oral diseases in patients with schizophrenia. Unfortunately, some of these can be attributed to dental profession; these patients are sometimes deprived of dental service as they cannot afford the treatment due to its cost and they are even neglected sometimes by dental professionals. The idea of providing oral health care in the environment of specialized health care institutions, such as psychiatric hospitals, during periods of hospitalization, is especially emphasized.

Effectiveness of oral health education on oral hygiene status among schizophrenic patients: A randomized controlled study

“…A recent systematic review and meta‐analysis of advanced dental disease in people with severe mental illness found that people with mental illness were 3.4 times more likely to have lost teeth than the general population and had higher rates of decayed, missing, or filled teeth . The rapidly deteriorating oral health can severely compromise patient's speech, ability to chew affecting nutrition, leads to comorbidities such as cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, and rendering the dental treatment unaffordable in later stages . Furthermore, long‐term medications in these patients may often lead to xerostomia damaging dental tissues.…”

“…Furthermore, long‐term medications in these patients may often lead to xerostomia damaging dental tissues. Stigma, discrimination, limited access to treatment owing to individual and familial factors, and unwillingness of dentists to provide oral care often has catastrophic effect on oral health …”

“…2 The rapidly deteriorating oral health can severely compromise patient's speech, ability to chew affecting nutrition, leads to comorbidities such as cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, and rendering the dental treatment unaffordable in later stages. 3 Furthermore, longterm medications in these patients may often lead to xerostomia damaging dental tissues. Stigma, discrimination, limited access to treatment owing to individual and familial factors, and unwillingness of dentists to provide oral care often has catastrophic effect on oral health.…”

“…Stigma, discrimination, limited access to treatment owing to individual and familial factors, and unwillingness of dentists to provide oral care often has catastrophic effect on oral health. 3 Despite the literature documenting relative poor oral health status 1,2 which has severe effects, there have been little efforts made to assess the role of prevention among schizophrenics. Effective oral hygiene practices are necessary to prevent periodontal destruction as well as debilitating dental caries.…”

Evaluation of symptoms and sings of oral soft tissue disorders among inpatients with schizophrenia

“…Factors like nature of psychiatric disorders, and oral-side effects of antipsychotic medications have been noted as contributors to poor oral health among institutionalized patients with schizophrenia [6]. In addition, unhealthy behaviors such as smoking cigarettes, alcohol consumption and drug abuse have been linked to psychiatric disorders [7]. Some studies that have been done on patients with schizophrenia focused on the assessment of dental caries and periodontal disease [8,9,10].…”