Prevalence of risk factors for oral diseases in obese patients referred for bariatric surgery.

Background: Obesity is a risk factor for several chronic diseases, and scientific evidence suggests an association between obesity and oral diseases. In this study, the authors estimated the prevalence of risk factors for caries, dental erosion, and periodontal disease in a group of obese patients referred for bariatric surgery.

Methods: The authors invited obese patients who were referred for bariatric surgery at a private center for treatment of obesity to participate in this study. The patients answered a questionnaire about their sociodemographic data, general and oral health histories, dietary habits, and oral health care behavior.

Results: The authors evaluated a total of 255 participants; 200 (78.4%) were women, the median (interquartile range) age was 36.0 (30.0-43.0) years, and the median (interquartile range) body mass index was 39.7 (37.6-43.5) kilograms per square meter. The authors observed a high prevalence of risk factors for dental erosion; 78.4% of the participants consumed acidic foods daily, and 92.2% consumed acidic beverages daily. With respect to risk factors for caries, 38.5% of the participants reported high sucrose intake, and 59.6% preferred sweet beverages and foods with sucrose. Almost 13% of the participants reported having or having had dental mobility, and 59.6% reported having or having had gingival bleeding, suggesting a history of periodontal disease.

Conclusions: Obese patients referred for bariatric surgery are exposed to risks of experiencing oral diseases and should be evaluated by a dentist.

Practical Implications: Knowing the risk factors for oral diseases in obese patients is important in raising awareness about these risk factors, as well as to prevent complications in the oral cavity.