Systemic Disease and the Mouth

Question 1

What effects can syphilis have on the oral cavity?

Answer 1

Changes to incisors in particular - termed Hutchinsons incisors and have a typical bulbous crown

Question 2

What can perinatal illness manifest as in the mouth?

Answer 2

Shows as changes to the laying down of cement and enamel and the calcification of these tissues according to the time of when the illness took place
Same effect on many teeth
Dark band where there is hypomineralised enamel and dentine

Question 3

What does porphyria manifest as in the mouth?

Answer 3

Change in the amount of haem and haem products in the blood and can be incorporated into the dental tissues as they form
Makes the teeth appear as brown coloured

Question 4

What does significant perinatal jaundice manifest as orally?

Answer 4

Green/yellow change in the colour of the teeth

Question 5

What does tetracycline (medication) do to the dentition if taken in childhood?

Answer 5

Produces a linear band of discoloration on the teeth
Now not recommended to be given to children

Question 6

What does having a raised ACTH (like in Addison’s disease) manifest as orally?

Answer 6

Pigmentation of the gums
As ACTH is the stimulating hormone for melanocytes (high ACTH levels will produce a reactive melanosis of the oral mucsa)

Question 7

What affect does hyperparathyroidism have on the dentition?

Answer 7

Loss of cortical bone
In a patient with ongoing hyperthyroidism, the lamina dura is often lost, once the hyperthyroidism is corrected the lamina dura will reform