Poor dental hygiene is a serious and prevalent problem among people with mental illness or cognitive impairment: Dental caries and periodontal disease are 3.4 times more common among the mentally ill than among the general population.1 Little has been published on the causes and prevention of these diseases among the mentally ill, however. Interprofessional education provides the opportunity to reinforce the connection between oral health and systemic health.
Untreated dental disease can result in edentulism (partial or complete tooth loss). Often, this condition leads to embarrassment, poor self-image, and social isolation—all of which can exacerbate the psychotic state and its symptoms. Working with your patient to improve oral health can, in turn, lead to better mental and physical health.
CASE REPORT
Edentulism in a man with schizophrenia
A 34-year-old man, given a diagnosis of schizophrenia at age 17, is admitted to the inpatient psychiatry unit for bizarre behavior. The next day, 4 maxillary and incisor teeth fall out suddenly while he is brushing his teeth. The patient is brought to emergency dental services.
Factors contributing to his tooth loss include:
- schizophrenia
- neglected oral hygiene
- adverse effects of antipsychotic medication
- lack of advice on the importance of oral hygiene
- failure to recognize signs of a dental problem.
What else can lead to edentulism?
Breakdown of the periodontal attachment2 also can be caused by disinterest in oral hygiene practices; craving of, and preference for, carbohydrates because of reduced central serotonin activity3,4; and xerostomia.
Xerostomia, or dry mouth, caused by psychotropic agents and an altered immune response, facilitates growth of pathogenic bacteria and can lead to several dental diseases (Table). These conditions are exacerbated by consumption of chewing gum, sweets, and sugary drinks in response to constantly feeling thirsty from xerostomia. Advise patients to take frequent sips of fluid or let ice cubes melt in their mouth.
Bruxism. Patients taking a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor or an atypical antipsychotic can develop a movement disorder (eg, extrapyramidal symptoms or tardive dyskinesia) that includes clenching, grinding of the teeth (bruxism), or both, which can worsen their periodontal condition.
Lack of skills, physical dexterity, and motivation to maintain good oral hygiene are common among people with mental illness. Most patients visit a dentist only when they experience a serious oral problem or an emergency (ie, trauma). Many dentists treat psychiatric patients by extracting the tooth that is causing the pain, instead of pursuing complex tooth preservation or restoration techniques because of (1) the extent of the disease, (2) lack of knowledge related to psychiatric illnesses, and (3) frequent and timely follow-ups.5
Providing education about oral health to patients, implementing preventive steps, and educating other medical specialities about the link between oral health and systemic health can help to reduce the burden of dental problems among mentally ill patients.
Disclosures
The authors report no financial relationships with any company whose products are mentioned in this article or with manufacturers of competing products