Impact of therapeutic oral health education program in individuals with systemic sclerosis: A prospective study

Systemic sclerosis is an autoimmune disorder characterized by progressive fibrosis which affects skin and internal organs. There is also involvement of oral cavity seen as microstomia which affects oral hygiene and subsequently, increases morbidity and treatment needs. This study aimed to analyze the effect of oral health education program on quality of life (QoL) in patients with systemic sclerosis.

This prospective study was conducted after obtaining ethical approval from Institutional Ethics Committee (IEC). The selected subjects were randomly categorized in 2 groups. A) Group A subjects were explained an exercise protocol for a period of 1 month then exercises were stopped and B) Group B (controls) subjects were instructed to exercise twice daily. All patients were asked to continue oral hygiene care. Data pertaining to sociodemographic characteristics of selected study population werecollected, and severity of disease was calculated by "Medsger's disease severity scale."Interincisal distance was measured at baseline examination and then at follow-up examination after 1month by measurement of interincisal distance between maxillary and mandibular central incisors by Vernier caliper in natural head position.

Collected data wereanalyzed by using IBM SPSS version 20.0 statistical software (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). Categorical study variables were noted in form of numbers/percentages.

Statistically significant differences in mouth opening were noted in patients who used to perform oral physiotherapeutic exercises twice daily for 1month when compared withthose who used to exercise only once a day.

Microstomia in systemic sclerosis patients can be improved by performing oral rehabilitation exercises. Thus, influencing the status of oral hygiene in these individuals.