Objectives: To evaluate the oral health status and denture treatment
needs of a group of outpatients with schizophrenia.
Methods: One hundred and eighty-eight patients diagnosed with
schizophrenia were evaluated. Socio-demographic characteristics, eating
habits, alcohol consumption, smoking status, oral hygiene attitudes,
medical status, medications and the data related to dental visit were
obtained via structured questionnaire of 45 questions. Medication
information were confirmed from hospital records. The DMFT
score (the Total of decayed, missing and filled teeth), denture status,
Community Periodontal Index of Treatment (CPITN) and attachment
loss were recorded in accordance with the criteria defined by the WHO.
Results: The mean DMFT score was 11.1±8.6. Total number of teeth
decreased, while the number of decayed teeth and DMFT scores
increased with age (p<0.001). There was no relationship between the
anticholinergic effects of antipsychotics and the teeth count, number
of decayed, filled and missing teeth, and the DMFT scores. The
CPITN assessment revealed that 71.6% of the patients had healthy
periodontium, 7.4% exhibited gingival bleeding upon probing, and
21% had dental calculus. Psychotropic medication and tooth brushing
habits were associated with CPITN scores. Male sex was associated with
higher frequency of denture need (p<0.001), while no association was
observed with the education level and antipsychotic use (p>0.001).
Conclusion: Physicians and dentists have to work in coordination
to maintain good oral health of patients with schizophrenia. Patients
should be encouraged for regular dental check-ups and dentist should
take utmost care of the oral hygiene maintenance.
Keywords: DMFT, Oral Health, Outpatient, Schizophrenia