Bariatric Surgery Increases Dental Caries Incidence

Individuals who have undergone surgical treatment for obesity face an elevated risk of dental caries compared to their pre-surgery condition. They also commonly experience a decline in overall oral health, as revealed in a thesis conducted at the University of Gothenburg (1^✔ ✔Trusted Source
Increased risk of dental caries after bariatric surgery

Go to source). The objective of the thesis was to examine the oral health of individuals both before and after undergoing treatment for severe obesity. The participants had a BMI of 40 or higher, or 35 or higher along with other medical conditions like diabetes. Treatment options include either surgery or medical intervention.

Medical intervention encompasses lifestyle advice, dietary adjustments, potential medication, and support for increased physical activity. Nevertheless, surgery has demonstrated greater effectiveness in achieving weight loss. Given the escalating obesity epidemic worldwide, an increasing number of people are opting for surgical intervention.

"Sweden alone performs approximately 5,000 cases of obesity surgery each year, and this trend is on the rise," notes Negin Taghat, who has defended her doctoral thesis at the Institute of Odontology at the University of Gothenburg’s Sahlgrenska Academy. She also works as a dentist for the Swedish Public Dental Service in Region Västra Götaland. "Hence, we were curious to ascertain whether there are any alterations in the oral health of these patients post-surgery."

Elevated Risk of Cavities after Bariatric Surgery

The study involving 118 obese individuals outlined in the thesis discloses a trend where higher BMI is linked with a greater risk of cavities, following an ascending scale. At the highest BMI levels, there was a twofold increase in the risk of cavities and a reduced frequency of dental check-ups.

Two years after undergoing either surgical or medical treatment, a clear differentiation emerged between the two groups. Those who had undergone surgery saw an increase in the average number of cavities from 15.0 lesions on the tooth enamel surface to 19.1. Conversely, within the group receiving medical treatment, enamel lesions had decreased.

Another instance pertains to deeper cavities in the dentine, with an initial average value of 4.3 lesions before treatment. Two years after treatment, individuals in the surgery group had an average of 6.4 such lesions, whereas those in the medical treatment group had 4.9.

These associations remained statistically significant, even after accounting for factors such as socioeconomic status and other medical conditions.

Bariatric Surgery and Dental Caries: Crucial Information for Healthcare Professionals

"Individuals who have undergone surgical obesity treatment may also face a range of oral issues and experience an impact on their oral well-being," adds Negin. "We observed that nearly half of individuals reported poorer oral health."

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Symptoms may encompass teeth sensitivity and difficulties with chewing. This overall situation can also lead to social discomfort.

"Healthcare and dental professionals regularly encounter these patient groups in their practice. It is of utmost importance for staff to be aware that both obesity and its treatment can affect oral health, enabling them to devise appropriate preventive measures."

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Reference:

1. Increased risk of dental caries after bariatric surgery - (https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1006461)

Source-Medindia