Periodontal condition is associated with disease duration and motoric disabilities in patients with ankylosing spondylitis: results of a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: Recent literature reveals worse periodontal health condition in ankylosing spondylitis (AS). However, roles of AS-related parameters, periodontal condition, and their association appear unclear. This cross-sectional study aimed at investigating dental and periodontal health as well as potentially periodontal pathogenic bacteria in patients with AS compared to healthy control subjects (HC). METHODS: Dental examination comprised dental findings (DMF-T), periodontal probing depth (PPD), bleeding on probing, clinical attachment loss (CAL), papillary bleeding index, and microbiological analysis based on polymerase chain reaction of selected potentially periodontal pathogenic bacteria. Classification of periodontitis severity was based on PPD and/or CAL and divided into no/mild, moderate, and severe periodontitis. RESULTS: 52 participants with AS and 52 HC were included. 96% of the AS group and 75% of HC had moderate to severe periodontitis (moderate: AS = 26, HC = 34; severe: AS = 23, HC = 5; p < 0.01). Furthermore, a higher number of decayed teeth (D-T) were found in AS compared to HC (p = 0.02). A significant difference between AS und HC was detected for the prevalences of Parvimonas micra (AS = 92%, HC = 71%; p = 0.01), Eubacterium nodatum (AS = 35%, HC = 17%; p = 0.05), and Eikenella corrodens (AS = 96%, HC = 77%; p = 0.01). Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index (BASMI) and disease duration showed significant associations to PPD and CAL (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Patients with AS show worse dental and periodontal conditions compared to HC. Thereby, prevalence of bacteria related to insufficient oral hygiene was higher in AS. BASMI and duration of AS affect periodontal burden. Accordingly, particular attention considering dental care and oral hygiene in AS patients seems to be reasonable.

Oral health-related quality of life is associated with disease specific parameters in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and its association to oral health as well as AS specific parameters. METHODS: Patients with AS and a healthy control group (HC) were included and examined. The oral examination included decayed-, missing-, and filled-teeth index (DMF-T) as well as assessment of periodontal probing depth and clinical attachment loss to classify patients into healthy/mild, moderate, or severe periodontitis. Furthermore, the German short form of the oral health impact profile (OHIP G14) was used. RESULTS: A total of 50 patients each group (age: AS, 47.18 ± 15.67; HC, 55.82 ± 10.56; p < 0.01, gender male: AS, 52%; HC, 46%; p = 0.69) was included. AS patients showed worse D-T (p < 0.01) and periodontal condition (p = 0.01). The OHIP G14 score was clinically relevant and statistically significant higher in AS compared to HC (AS, 6.2 [2; 0-10.75]; HC, 1.7 [0; 0-2.0]; < 0.01). Only in HC, an association of OHIP G14 to DMF-T (p = 0.01) and M-T (p = 0.01) was found, while the OHIP G14 in AS group was not associated to oral health parameters. Within the AS group, the majority of investigated AS specific parameters were statistically significant and clinically relevant associated to OHIP G14 scores (pi < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Patients with AS show worse OHRQoL compared to HC, irrespective of oral status. The high general disease burden might affect OHRQoL, making an increased attention of these patients in dental care, especially considering psychological aspects, necessary. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Increased consideration of psychosocial and disease related aspects in dental care of AS patients appear recommendable.