Study Shows Morbidly Obese Patients Experience Negative Oral Health Effects

A study conducted by researchers at the Federal University of São Paulo in Brazil highlights the significant decline in oral health among morbidly obese individuals undergoing bariatric surgery or preparing for it. The study involved 100 patients split into two groups: those receiving dietary counseling and those undergoing gastroplasty at the Bariatric Clinic in Piracicaba, São Paulo. Oral assessments, questionnaires, saliva samples, and cheek swabs were analyzed before and 3 to 6 months after surgery or the commencement of the diet. The findings reveal a deterioration in oral health, marked by increased caries, gingivitis, and periodontitis, in both groups, but particularly those who underwent the bariatric surgery. Published in the Journal of Oral Rehabilitation and Clinical Oral Investigations, the research emphasizes the vital role of oral health professionals in the care of bariatric patients. Click here to read more.