Study of Reduced Salivary Secretion and Increased Caries Susceptibility in Rheumatoid Arthritis

It is a chronic inflammatory musculoskeletal disease with extra-articular manifestations including involvement of exocrine lacrimal and salivary glands. The aim of this study was to assess the reduced salivary secretion and calculate and compare DMF index in rheumatoid arthritis patients. The salivary output was determined in unstimulated (resting) whole saliva and caries status in all individuals was determined by using the DMF index in 20 rheumatoid arthritis patients and 20 healthy control subjects. Compared with healthy control groups, rheumatoid arthritis patients had significantly decreased output of saliva and higher DMF index than in the control group. The results indicate that xerostomia in patients with rheumatoid arthritis may be indicative of increased disease activity and impacts negatively on oral health leading to increased caries susceptibility and should receive increased stomatological attention.