[The objective oral health of Parkinson's disease patients].

In this article, the results of a research project on the objective oral health of Parkinson's disease patients, related to the duration and the progression of the disease, are reported. Participants were 74 patients with Parkinson's disease and 74 control persons. All participants were orally examined. Dentate Parkinson's disease patients had statistically significantly more teeth with carious lesions, more tooth root remnants, and more biofilm and food particles when compared to dentate control persons. Within the group of dentate Parkinson's disease patients, the number of teeth with restorations as well as the number of mobile teeth were positively related to the duration of the disease. Additionally, in this group the number of teeth with carious lesions, the number of teeth with restorations, and the number of tooth root remnants were positively related to the progression of the disease. Parkinson's disease patients need daily oral hygiene care support, particularly in advanced stages of the disease.