Abstract
Background: There are some studies about dental problems of asthmatic patients. However, studies comparing dental diseases in patients with asthma and with COPD are not sufficient.
Aim: Our aim is to compare the frequency of self-reported dental problems, their treatments and to determine affecting factors.
Method: A face-to-face questionnaire including the history of their diseases, dental problems and treatments, tooth brushing habits and comorbidity questions was applied by a doctor to the patients who admitted to Chest Diseases Dept. and Immunology and Allergy Diseases Subdept.
Results: 292 patients (63.4% asthmatic, 36.6% with COPD) and 286 controls were included to the study. Mean dental disease durations were 14.04±0.80 and 15.18±1.01 years in patients with asthma and COPD, respectively (p>0.05). There were dental problems in 91.6% of asthmatics and in 97.8% of COPD patients (p=0.01). The frequency of the subjects with dental caries was 89.7% in asthmatics, 95.3% in COPD patients, and 86.4% in the control group (p=0.04). As for tooth brushing habit, 47.0% of asthmatic patients, 21.5% of patients with COPD, and 58.0% of the control group stated to perform regularly once or twice per day (p<0.001). Only 41.6% of asthmatic patients, 9.3% of COPD patients, and 52.1% of the control group (p<0.001) had elementary or higher education.
Conclusions: Dental caries is the most frequent dental problem. The frequency of tooth brushing is related to the educational status and the patients should be instructed to perform this act regularly as recommended.
- © 2011 ERS
