[The level of oral health and oral care in patients with Sjögren syndrome]. / Het niveau van de mondgezondheid en mondverzorging van patiënten met het syndroom van Sjögren.

ABSTRACT

Sjögren syndrome, characterised by, among other things, dry mouth, can be associated with an increased risk of caries and oral infections. The level of oral care and oral health in a group of 50 patients with Sjögren syndrome was assessed. These findings were compared with a group of 61 healthy controls. Damage to the cervical area of the teeth was much more frequently seen in patients with Sjögren syndrome than in the control group (p smaller 0,001). Moreover, patients with Sjögren syndrome paid more attention to their oral care. This expressed itself, among other things, by the more frequent use of interdental cleaning agents (p = 0.004) and fluoride mouthwashes (p smaller 0.001). It is recommended that dentists and dental hygienists see their patients often; every three months, for example, on account of, among other things, the increased risk of developing caries.