Gastrointestinal diseases and their oro-dental manifestations: Part 1: Crohn's disease

• Published in: British dental journal 2016-12, Vol.221 (12), p.794-799
• Main Authors: Tan, C. X. W., Brand, H. S., de Boer, N. K. H., Forouzanfar, T.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 692/1807/1707; 692/699/1503/1581/257/1402; 692/700/3032/3149/3023; Asymptomatic; Colon; Crohn Disease - complications; Crohn's disease; Dentistry; Endoscopy; Epidemiology; Fecal incontinence; Fistula; Gastrointestinal diseases; Humans; Medicine; Mouth Diseases - etiology; Mouth Mucosa; Oral Ulcer; Small intestine; Stomatitis, Aphthous; Tooth Diseases - etiology; Tumor necrosis factor-TNF
• ISSN: 0007-0610; 1476-5373
• DOI: 10.1038/sj.bdj.2016.954

Key Points Highlights that a wide variety in the incidence of oral manifestations has been described in patients with Crohn's disease. Demonstrates that Crohn's disease has negative effects on oral health and therefore patients need special attention from dental clinicians. Points out that oral manifestations may precede gastrointestinal symptoms and recognition can lead to early referral to a gastroenterologist, which is important especially in children Widely varying prevalence rates of oral lesions in patients with Crohn's disease have been reported, ranging from 0.5% to 37%. These manifestations may coincide with or precede intestinal symptoms. Oral manifestations can be classified as specific lesions, when macroscopic examination shows similar changes to those observed endoscopically in the intestine, and non-specific lesions including aphthous ulcerations. The most frequently observed oral lesions are oedema, ulcers and hyperplastic lesions on the buccal mucosa. In most patients these lesions are asymptomatic, however, some patients may experience discomfort. In this review we describe the most relevant oro-dental manifestations observed in patients with Crohn's disease and discuss the potential implications for oro-dental management.