This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Miura, H. Articles by Miura, K. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Miura, H. Articles by Miura, K. Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Perceived Oral Health Status, Oral Function and Related Behaviour Among the Patients of Behçet's Disease

Department of Speech Therapy, Faculty of Health Science, Kyushu University of Health and Welfare, hmiura{at}phoenix.ac.jp

Emiko Isogai, PhD

Department of Preventive and Community Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Health Sciences University of Hokkaido

Hiroyuki Mizugai, DDS

Department of Preventive and Community Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Health Sciences University of Hokkaido

Kunihisa Miura, MD

Department of Anesthesiology, Juntendo University Urayasu Hospital

The majority of patients with Behçet's disease (BD) suffers from oral ulcers. The aim of the present study was to survey self-rated oral health status, oral function, and oral health behaviour of patients with BD in eastern Japan. Subjects were 33 BD patients and 101 healthy individuals ranging in age from 20 to 59 years. The survey was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire. The items of oral health in the questionnaire included subjective symptoms, self-rated dental problems and oral health behaviour. We found that compared to the healthy subjects, BD patients experienced more severe physical limitations, mainly involving difficulty in pronouncing words (p<0.01) and the pain of oral mucosa and gingival tissue caused by oral ulcers (p<0.01). Based on the results of oral health behaviour, BD patients did not behave positively with regard to maintaining oral health including regular tooth brushing despite relatively higher risk of dental diseases that they face.

The present results suggest that oral ulcers due to BD induced dental disorder such as the pain of gingiva, oral mucosa, and difficulty in the pronouncing of words. In spite of this, their oral health behaviour is not positive compared to the healthy subjects. Thus, the need to develop a more active pragramme for oral health education for patients with BD is indicated. Asia Pac J Public Health 2000;12(2): 98-101

Key Words: Behçet's disease • health related QOL • oral health habits.

Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health, Vol. 12, No. 2, 98-101 (2000)
DOI: 10.1177/101053950001200208


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?