Comparison of oral disease manifestation in patients with pulmonary disease and healthy group

BACKGROUND: Oral health is affected by dental plaque, the oral microbial flora, and oral immunity. Periodontal infection may exacerbate systemic diseases, including pulmonary disease. Systemic diseases can affect oral health, and oral health has effect on overall health. Several recent studies have shown that a correlation exists between oral diseases and systemic chronic diseases. Oral bacteria, poor oral hygiene, and periodontitis appear to affect the occurrence of pulmonary infections, especially nosocomial pneumonia episodes in high-risk subjects. The aim of this study was a comprehensive look at lesions and oral diseases in patients with pulmonary disease and comparison with these lesions in healthy people. METHODS: In this case-control study, 42 patients from Pulmonary Department of the Imam Khomeini (RA) Hospital as case group and 42 patients from subject referred to Dental school of the Tehran University of Medical Sciences as control group were examined. In both groups periodontal status, gingivitis, xerostomia, halitosis, dental caries, coating tongue and existence of oral lesion were assessed. To evaluate the indices among pulmonary patients and healthy people as well acute and chronic pulmonary patients used the Mann-Whitney Test. RESULTS: The rate of gingivitis, periodontitis, halitosis and coating tongue in pulmonary patients was significantly higher than healthy subjects. In comparing the rate of dental caries, xerostomia and oral lesions did not have any significant difference between two groups. Also, in the assessment of the rate of gingivitis, periodontitis, halitosis, coating tongue, dental caries, xerostomia and oral lesion did not exit any significant difference between patients with acute and chronic pulmonary diseases.
CONCLUSIONS: In according to the increase indexes of gingivitis, periodontitis, halitosis and coating tongue among patients with pulmonary disease compared with healthy subjects, it is necessary to pay more attention to improve oral health of patients with pulmonary diseases. KEY WORDS: Mouth diseases - Oral manifestations - Lung diseases