Serious Mental Illnesses Linked with Poor Dental Health
January 6, 2010

By Nancy Volkers
InteliHealth News Service

INTELIHEALTH - People with serious mental illness also tend to have poor oral health, says a review.

A researcher from Boston University reviewed 57 studies published over the past 29 years. The review found that about 6 of every 10 adults with serious mental illness also had poor oral health. The most common problems were tooth decay, missing teeth and periodontal disease.

Compared with people who had good oral health, those with poor oral health tended to have poorer oral hygiene habits, lower economic status and less access to care. These are also common components of poor oral health in the general population.

The ability of the dental office to handle the oral health needs of seriously mentally ill patients was the next most important factor influencing the oral health of the seriously mental ill patient.

People who were less aware of how to take care of their teeth tended to have poorer oral health. So did people who took psychiatric medicines for a longer time.

The authors suggest that psychiatric treatment programs include more education about dental health.

The study appears in the December 29 issue of the Community Mental Health Journal.