Association between the time after transplantation and different immunosuppressive medications with dental and periodontal treatment need in patients after solid organ transplantation.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the association of time after transplantation and different immunosuppressive medications with dental and periodontal treatment needs in patients after solid organ transplantation (SOT). METHODS: After lung, liver, or kidney transplantation, patients were included and divided into subgroups based on the time after SOT (0-1, 1-3, 3-6, 6-10, and >10 years) and immunosuppression (tacrolimus, cyclosporine, mycophenolate, glucocorticoids, sirolimus, and monotherapy vs combination). Dental treatment need was determined by the presence of carious lesions, while periodontal treatment need was diagnosed based on a Periodontal Screening index score of 3-4. The overall treatment need included both the dental and/or periodontal treatment needs. Statistical analysis was performed using the Kruskal-Wallis test and chi-squared test (P < .05). RESULTS: A total of 169 patients were included after SOT. A dental treatment need of 44%, a periodontal treatment need of 71%, and an overall treatment need of 84% were detected in the total cohort. Only patients with >10 years after SOT had a lower dental treatment need compared to the other groups (P = .02). All other comparisons of dental, periodontal, and overall treatment needs were comparable between subgroups depending on time since SOT. Furthermore, no statistically significant differences were found in terms of the dental, periodontal, or overall treatment needs following the administration of different immunosuppressive medications. CONCLUSION: The high treatment need of patients after SOT, irrespective of the time since transplantation, suggests insufficient dental and periodontal treatment before and maintenance after organ transplantation. Furthermore, immunosuppressive medication was not associated with the treatment need.

Oral health related quality of life depending on oral health and specific factors in patients after lung transplantation.

INTRODUCTION: Patients after lung transplantation (LuTx) were found to present oral health deficiencies. The investigation of potentially underlying or influencing factors appears to be of clinical relevance. OBJECTIVES: Aim of this study was to evaluate the oral health related quality of life (OHRQoL) in a group of patients after LuTx and compare this to a healthy control group (HC). Furthermore, the influence of dental and periodontal condition, as well as specific factors like immunosuppression, time after LuTx and causal underlying disease should be investigated. METHODS: The OHRQoL was assessed using the German short form of the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP G14). Dental examination included the decayed (D-), missing (M-), and filled (F-) teeth index (DMF-T). Periodontal condition was classified based on clinical attachment loss and/or pocket depth as no/mild or moderate/severe periodontitis. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Mann-Whitney-U-test, Kruskal-Wallis test (P < .05). RESULTS: A total of 60 patients after LuTx and 70 HC were included. The DMF-T, D-T, and M-T as well as periodontal disease severity was significantly higher in LuTx group (P < .01). The OHIP G14 differed neither clinically relevant, nor statistically significant (LuTx: 1.70 ± 2.70, HC: 1.54 ± 2.86, P = .15). While in HC the DMF-T, M-T, and periodontal condition had an influence on OHIP G14 values (P < .05), in LuTx no influence was detected for dental and periodontal condition as well as specific factors investigated. CONCLUSIONS: The oral health perception of LuTx patients does not reflect the apparent oral health deficiencies. Consequently, sensitization and motivation for an increased dental behavior is needed.