Journal of Clinical Medicine · 6 authors, 2 centres
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This systematic review evaluated the prevalence and incidence of dental caries in adult patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The central result is that 8 out of 12 comparative studies found a significantly higher caries prevalence or burden in RA patients compared to healthy controls.
This systematic review followed PRISMA guidelines to evaluate caries prevalence/incidence in adult RA patients. A total of 336 studies were identified, with 16 meeting inclusion criteria for qualitative analysis. Most studies used the DMFT or DT index. The analysis revealed heterogeneous results, but in 8 of 12 studies with control groups, a significant difference in caries prevalence was found between RA patients and controls, with 6 studies showing worse caries burdens in RA. Mean values of decayed teeth ranged from 0.8 to 5.79 across studies. The review discusses potential explanatory factors such as disease activity, salivary changes, and physical dysfunction affecting oral hygiene. Limitations include moderate study quality, heterogeneous methodologies, and a lack of information on caries activity or location (e.g., root vs. crown). The conclusion supports a higher caries prevalence in RA patients and recommends further research and multidisciplinary dental care.
