Tooth loss three times higher in people with serious mental illness

September 1, 2011 in Dentistry

People with severe mental illnesses are over three times more likely to lose their teeth because of poor oral health than the general population, University of Queensland researchers have found.

The research, published in the September issue of the , shows that psychiatric patients have not shared in recent improvements in and the researchers have called for free dental care for people with severe .

Researchers analysed 14 studies into the oral health of people with severe mental illness published over the past 20 years.

All the psychiatric patients in the studies (2784) had been diagnosed with severe mental illness, such as , , bipolar disorder or other affective disorders.

The review found that the psychiatric patients were 3.4 times more likely to have lost all their teeth.

They were also 6.2 times more likely to have decayed, filled or missing teeth.

Lead researcher Professor Steve Kisely said a combination of factors was to blame.

“People with severe mental illness may not be able to clean their teeth properly because of poor housing or homelessness," he said.

"Some medications such as antidepressants and mood stabilisers can also reduce the flow of saliva and cause dry mouth (xerostomia), which increases plaque formation.

“They may be reluctant to see a dentist because of they are scared of treatment, or worried about the cost.

“Our analysis shows that, although the oral health of the general population has improved in much of the world, remain at a disadvantage.

“This mirrors findings in other areas such as cardiovascular disease, where the health of the general population has improved – but not that of people with severe mental illness.”

Professor Kisely said should be part of the standard assessment for all patients with severe mental illness.

“When patients are admitted to hospital, their care plans should include a basic assessment of oral hygiene – including factors known to cause oral ill-health such as medication, tobacco and drug use.

“Patients with mental illness who are treated in the community should be given advice on diet, smoking and brushing technique.

“We believe policy-makers should also consider providing free, accessible dental care for people with severe mental illness,” he said.

Provided by University of Queensland search and more info website

5 /5 (1 vote)  

Rank 5 /5 (1 vote)
Relevant PhysicsForums posts
  • What capacitors to use in a Tesla coil...?
    created16 hours ago
  • Work done by us on the spring
    created18 hours ago
  • Surface current density
    created19 hours ago
  • Work done on body moving in a circle
    created23 hours ago
  • Crest or Trough?
    created23 hours ago
  • Origin of magnetism
    createdMay 25, 2012
  • More from Physics Forums - Classical Physics

More news stories

Two-step tooth implantation and built-up bone can be longer lasting: study

Periodontists routinely grow bone in the mouth to guarantee a stable environment for teeth and tooth implants. But whether it's better to build up bone before placing the implant, or to simply place the implant and allow ...

Dentistry created May 22, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Severe gum disease, impotence may be linked

(HealthDay) -- Men with severe gum disease, known as periodontitis, are at greater risk for impotence, according to a new study that finds young men and the elderly at particular risk.

Dentistry created May 21, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Tiny tots in the dentist's chair among changes in pediatric dentistry

(HealthDay) -- If you've been to the dentist with your children recently, you may have noticed that things have changed since you were a kid.

Dentistry created May 18, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 1 | with audio podcast

From one generation to the next, dental care changes

(HealthDay) -- Stephanie Crowe, a mother of three from Croton-on-Hudson, N.Y., still remembers dreading a visit to the dentist as a young girl. It was often a painful experience, and her family's dentist showed little empathy ...

Dentistry created May 18, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Fish oil could be therapy for periodontal disease

Periodontitis, inflammation of the tissue surrounding the teeth, affects more than half of adults and is linked to an increased risk of stroke and other heart problems. To evaluate whether fish oil supplementation could be ...

Dentistry created Apr 24, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (3) | comments 0


Of mice and mental models: Neuroscientific implications of risk-optimized behavior in the mouse

(Medical Xpress) -- Regardless of an organism’s biological complexity, every encephalized animal continuously makes under-informed behavioral choices that can have serious consequences. Despite its ubiquity, ...

Tongue analysis software uses ancient Chinese medicine to warn of disease

For 5,000 years, the Chinese have used a system of medicine based on the flow and balance of positive and negative energies in the body. In this system, the appearance of the tongue is one of the measures used to classify ...

Cancer may require simpler genetic mutations than previously thought

Chromosomal deletions in DNA often involve just one of two gene copies inherited from either parent. But scientists haven't known how a deletion in one gene from one parent, called a "hemizygous" deletion, can contribute ...

Inherited DNA change explains overactive leukemia gene

A small inherited change in DNA is largely responsible for overactivating a gene linked to poor treatment response in people with acute leukemia.

Skp2 activates cancer-promoting, glucose-processing Akt

HER2 and its epidermal growth factor receptor cousins mobilize a specialized protein to activate a major player in cancer development and sugar metabolism, scientists report in the May 25 issue of Cell.

Early physical therapist treatment associated with reduced risk of healthcare utilization and reduced overall healthcare

A new study published in Spine shows that early treatment by a physical therapist for low back pain (LBP), as compared to delayed treatment, was associated with reduced risk of subsequent healthcare utilization and lower ...