Current updates on dental perspectives of leprosy - Revisited.

The present review summarizes the current updates on dental perspectives on leprosy and the affording factors that are responsible for the prevalence of caries and periodontal diseases in leprosy. It also highlights immunopathological phenomena and reactional episodes of leprosy that occur due to daedal interactions between the perio-odontopathic bacteria and M. leprae. In addition, a brief introduction, historiography, classification and clinicopathological aspects are also been covered.

Dental caries and risk indicators for patients with leprosy in China.

BACKGROUND: In leprosy, oral health is often neglected and poorly understood. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and risk indicators of dental caries in patients with leprosy in China. METHODS: This cross-sectional, multicentre study included 613 patients with leprosy and 602 control subjects. Based on the established standards of the World Health Organization, we investigated dental caries in cluster samplings from six so-called 'leprosy villages' in three Chinese provinces. Clinical oral examinations were performed and data were reported as decayed (D), missing (M) and filled (F) teeth (DMFT scores). RESULTS: The average DMFT scores were 10.39 in patients with leprosy (D = 4.43; M = 5.94; and F = 0.02) and 4.39 in control individuals (D = 2.29; M = 2.02; F = 0.08). The DMFT scores were statistically significantly different in patients with different ages, educational backgrounds and daily brushing frequency (P < 0.05). High DMFT scores were related to age, low educational levels and poor toothbrushing habits. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that patients with leprosy have a high prevalence of severe dental caries. Effective therapy and oral health education should be enhanced for this group of patients.

Orofacial and dental condition in leprosy

AIM: To verify the orofacial and dental complex in individuals affected by leprosy concerning lesions, prevalence of dental caries and biofilm storage. METHODS: This study was performed on 56 patients with leprosy: 28 under treatment and 28 treated for the disease. A clinical form was prepared to include demographic and leprosy data. The prevalence of caries was analyzed using the decayed, missing, filled teeth (DMFT) index and oral hygiene was evaluated using the Plaque Control Record. The statistical significance was measured by chi-square and Student's t-test. RESULTS: The mean age was 56.4 years, and there was predominance of males. The treatment group had more women (Pearson ÷2=12.47, p=0.0004) and younger patients (Pearson ÷2=9.688, p=0.0079) than the healed group. As much as 30.4% of patients had orofacial complaints related to the disease. The most often observed variations of normality as racial melanin pigmentation (67.8%) and lingual varices (32.1%), and lesions such as atrophy of the anterior nasal spine (25%), inflammatory papillary hyperplasia (17.8%), and collapse of the nasal bridge (14.3%). There were no specific oral lesions among leprosy patients. The mean DMFT was 20.8 and the Plaque Control Record was 70.2%. The treated group had higher DMFT than the treatment group (Student's t p=0.003). CONCLUSIONS: The oral health status of individuals with leprosy is poor, with high levels of plaque and DMFT. No oral lesions associated with the disease were seen.

Oral health status and alveolar bone loss in treated leprosy patients of central India.

A descriptive cross sectional study was carried out, in a group of 160 leprosy patients treated with multi drug therapy. The patients with age group of 25 to 60 year were considered. Out of 160 patients 50 patients were selected by simple random sampling technique for radiological assessments. Intra-oral periapical radiographs (6 for each patient) were taken. The paralleling long cone technique was used and radiographs were attached with grids so as to enable measuring the bone height. The grid was spaced in 1 mm marking and placed directly over the film. Clinical examination revealed that Prevalence of dental caries was 76.25% and periodontal disease was 78.75%. Mean DMFT score was 2.26. Mean OHI-S score was 3.50. Score for Gingival index was 1.60 and average loss of gingival attachment was 1.2 mm. Radiographic findings showed mean alveolar bone loss in maxillary anterior region to be 5.05 mm and in maxillary posterior region it was 4.92 mm. Alveolar bone loss in mandibular anterior region was 4.35 mm and in mandibular posterior region was 5.14 mm. Overall Dental Health Status of the leprosy patients was poor and needed more attention for dental care. There was also an increase in the alveolar bone loss, which was generalized. This bone loss could be due to advance stage of the disease or late approach to rehabilitation center, these patients also had peripheral neuropathy leading to hand and feet deformity in the form of claw hand or ulcer on hand, making maintenance of oral hygiene difficult.