Author: Rooney TP.

Summary: Twenty-one patients with Crohn's disease have been studied with respect to caries activity and, when compared to two separate age-matched control groups, have evidenced a significantly greater number of decayed, missing, or filled teeth. Potential contributing factors, such as saliva constituents, oral hygiene, and diet, are discussed and implications for further research are presented.

Study link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=6588344&dopt=Abstract

Authors: Schutz T, Drude C, Paulisch E, Lange KP, Lochs H.

Institution: Medizinische Klinik mit Schwerpunkt Gastroenterologie, Hepatologie und Endokrinologie, Universitatsklinikum Charite Campus Mitte, Berlin, Deutschland. elke-tatjana.schuetz@charite.de

Background: An increased intake of sucrose has been reported in patients with Crohn's disease (CD). Since subclinical zinc deficiency reduces taste perception for sweet, we investigated taste perception, sucrose intake and plasma zinc levels as well as dental status in CD patients.

Results: In CD a higher sucrose intake (CD 107.1 +/- 27.7 vs. Con 71.9 +/- 13.7 g/day; p < 0.001), a higher taste threshold for sweet (CD 7.31 vs. Con 2.91 g/l; p < 0.001) and lower plasma zinc levels (CD 11.5 +/- 1.5 vs. Con 13.5 +/- 2.0 micromol/l; p < 0.001) were found. API was poor (CD 85.4 +/- 23.6, Con 31.8 +/- 24.1, p < 0.001) and correlated with sucrose intake (p < 0.01). Caries prevalence was increased in patients with longer disease (>3 years) (DMFT index: >3 years 15.6 +/- 5.7 vs. <3 years 9.5 +/- 4.3; p < 0.05).

Conclusion: Dental status in CD patients is poor. Both increased sugar consumption and insufficient oral hygiene seem to cause the higher caries prevalence. Obviously, patients with CD belong to a high-risk group, and preventive measures should be taken early in the course of the disease. (Copyright 2003 S. Karger AG, Basel)

Study link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=14571099&query_hl=29