Diagnostics (Apr 2023)

Association between Sjögren’s Syndrome and Periodontitis: Epidemiological, Fundamental and Clinical Data: A Systematic Review

  • Dorin Nicolae Gheorghe,
  • Dora Maria Popescu,
  • Stefan Cristian Dinescu,
  • Margarita Silaghi,
  • Petra Surlin,
  • Paulina Lucia Ciurea

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics13081401
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13, no. 8
p. 1401

Abstract

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In recent decades, researchers have investigated the bidirectional links between periodontal disease and systemic diseases, and the results have allowed the development of the concept of periodontal medicine. This concept incorporates and analyzes the mutually influential interactions that can occur between periodontitis and systemic diseases such as diabetes mellitus or cardiovascular diseases. Sjögren’s syndrome (SS) is a chronic autoimmune disorder that targets the exocrine glands of the body, such as the lacrimal and salivary glands. The amount of saliva produced may gradually decrease with the progression of the disease, which can have an impact on the structures within the oral cavity. Although the reduction in saliva flow produces negative effects in the oral cavity, a direct association between Sjögren’s syndrome and periodontal disease has not yet been demonstrated. Available studies on this topic have not identified significant differences in the periodontal status of patients with Sjögren’s syndrome and control groups at the clinical and bacteriological levels. On the other hand, other studies on this topic consider that patients with periodontitis have a higher risk of developing Sjögren’s syndrome than the general population. Therefore, the results remain inconclusive, highlighting the need for further complementary studies.

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