Possible link between dental diseases and arteriosclerosis in patients on hemodialysis

Background Patients on hemodialysis must undergo this procedure at a hospital three times weekly and might be unable to visit a dentist. In addition, dentists might hesitate to provide oral care because such patients tend to bleed because they are medicated with anticoagulants, are susceptible to bacterial infections, and might have unusual drug reactions. We postulated that patients on hemodialysis have worse oral status than healthy people, which in turn might predispose such patients to systemic complications. Methods We compared the status of dental caries and periodontal diseases among 80 patients on hemodialysis and 76 healthy individuals (controls) using the decayed, missing, or filled teeth (DMFT) index, total number of C4 teeth (destruction of the entire tooth crown), and periodontal pocket depth. Clinical data were analyzed after all patients on hemodialysis and controls provided written, informed consent to participate in the study. Results Total number of C4 teeth (p = 0.021), missing teeth (MT) index (p = 0.0302), and DMFT index score >= 24 (p = 0.017) were significantly higher in patients on hemodialysis than controls. Pulse pressure (p = 0.0042) and the prevalence of a history of heart disease such as angina pectoris and acute myocardial infarction (p = 0.029) were higher in patients on hemodialysis with higher (>= 24) than lower (< 24) DMFT index scores. Periodontal pocket depth was not significantly different between these two groups. Conclusion Worse status of dental caries is possibly associated with arteriosclerosis among patients on hemodialysis.