Scleroderma: what the general dentist should know

Scleroderma is characterized by fibrotic changes of the skin and organ systems. The disease presents in a variety of forms, ranging from the most aggressive progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS), to the three less aggressive, CREST syndrome, morphea, and the more localized form, linear scleroderma. The oral manifestations of the disease result from deposits of collagen in the tissues or as a result of collagen deposition around nerves and vessels. All oral tissues are affected. In scleroderma patients, the oral manifestation most commonly recognized is wide periodontal ligament spaces. Limited function, impaired healing, and neurologic symptoms all may be present to varying degrees, depending on the form and progression of the disease.