Oral Health Status of People with Motor Neuron Disease

People with motor neurone disease (MND) may present with symptoms that limit oral hygiene maintenance, oral function and access to healthcare.Objectives: To assess the oral health status of people with MND in Victoria, Australia, and determine their dental treatment needs. Methods: Patients with end stage MND attending a palliative care centre in Melbourne were recruited into the study. Data collection included: a. Self reporting questionnaires on previous dental experience, current oral hygiene practices including preventative oral health measures and current dietary habits; b. Medical questionnaire; c. Clinical examination charting participants' dentition, restorations and caries status, periodontal status, plaque and gingival indices, and use of Oral Health Assessment Tool. Data Analysis included Chi squared and descriptive statistics using SPSS statistical package. Results: Thirty-three participants were successfully screened, among which only 8 self- reported regular dental visits. Six participants were edentulous and 5 of were full dentures wearers. No participant presented with any periodontally involved dentition. Ten out of 27 dentate participants required extractions and restorations for either retained roots or caries, while 3 presented with non-carious cavities, lost restorations, and lost cusps. No significant finding were present in regards to either the status of the dentition or oral hygiene when participants were stratified according to their presenting regions of MND onset. Oral health status was not affected by bulbar muscle status or upper limb motor status in this participant cohort. Conclusions: The study clearly demonstrated that other factors such as participants' and the palliative care teams' motivation towards oral healthcare was beneficial. MND certainly poses dental ramifications that will require the involvement of the dental profession as part of the multi-disciplinary effort towards ongoing care.