THE INFLUENCE OF HEMODIALYSIS ON ORAL HEALTH STATUS

A pilot study was conducted on 42 patients,which included 21 patients with CRF undergoing hemodialysis and 21 healthy individuals without CRF. The study was conducted in Canadian Hospital in Dubai, Nephrology Department. The visits were made every day for a total period of three weeks at a rate of approximately 5 hours per day. Medical history was taken to ensure that the patients were within the inclusion criteria to exclude any other systemic complications other than CRF that could influence the periodontal and oral health status of the patients. The study protocol was explained and an informed written consent was given to each individual before participating in the study. Clinical parameters related to dental and gingival status were assessed under the supervision of an experienced dentist. Randomly selected half mouths were examined excluding the third molars. Recession, clinical attachment loss (CAL), bleeding on probing (BOP), plaque index (PI) and dental caries were also recorded. Plaque index was visually recorded based on Sillness and Loe index and any other mucosal changes. Periodontitis was diagnosed if there was at least one site with PD≥4mm, CAL >1mm and BOP. The severity of periodontitis was classified as either severe (≥2 interproximal sites with CAL ≥6 mm and ≥1 interproximal site with PD ≥5 mm), moderate (≥2 interproximal sites with CAL ≥4 mm or ≥2 interproximal site with PD ≥5 mm) and no or mild (neither moderatenor severeperiodontitis). The aim of this pilot study was to determine the impact of hemodialysis on the dental, periodontal condition and overall oral health status in patients with CRF. No significant difference could be found between the two groups with regard to DMFS, plaque index, periodontitis and BOP. The observed variations among the groups studied appear to suggest that there is a significant difference in the halitosis and number of teeth present in CKD.