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Oral Health Assessment by Lay Personnel for Older Adults
Published on: February 2, 2020
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Potential Relationship between Poor Oral Hygiene and MRONJ: An Observational Retrospective Study
Silvia D'Agostino1,2, Giulia Valentini2, Marco Dolci2
1Complex Unit of Odontostomatology, Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, University Aldo Moro of Bari, 70121 Bari, Italy.
Summary
Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) often presents with poor oral hygiene, though its direct role in disease onset remains unclear. Poor plaque control, however, is linked to worsened MRONJ stages, impacting treatment.
Area of Science:
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
- Periodontology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) is a side effect of antiresorptive and antiangiogenic drugs.
- Dental procedures and prosthesis use can trigger MRONJ, but its pathogenesis, particularly the role of oral hygiene, is not fully understood.
- Existing literature lacks clear guidelines for non-surgical periodontal therapy in MRONJ patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the oral hygiene status of patients with MRONJ.
- To investigate the influence of poor oral hygiene as a contributing or exacerbating factor in MRONJ.
- To review non-surgical periodontal therapy approaches for MRONJ patients.
Main Methods:
- A study involving 45 subjects (19 males, 26 females) with a mean age of 59 years.
- Evaluation of oral hygiene using the Simplified Oral Hygiene Index (OHI-S).
- Correlation analysis between OHI-S scores and MRONJ severity based on the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS) staging.
Main Results:
- The majority of MRONJ patients exhibited poor oral hygiene, with an average OHI-S of 3.39 ± 1.83.
- No statistically significant correlation was found between OHI-S scores and AAOMS MRONJ stage.
- Poor plaque control is associated with more severe MRONJ, as per AAOMS guidelines.
Conclusions:
- While poor oral hygiene is common in MRONJ patients, its direct causal link to disease onset requires further investigation.
- Poor plaque control is recognized as a factor that can worsen MRONJ.
- Further research is needed to clarify the relationship between oral hygiene and MRONJ pathogenesis and to establish effective non-surgical periodontal treatment protocols.
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