Aim: Compared with the general population, individuals with schizophrenia have a higher risk of periodontal disease, which can potentially reduce their life expectancy. However, evidence for the early development of periodontal disease in schizophrenia is scant. The current study investigated risk factors for periodontal disease in patients newly diagnosed with schizophrenia. Methods: We identified a population-based cohort of patients in Taiwan with newly diagnosed schizophrenia who developed periodontal disease within 1 year of their schizophrenia diagnosis. Treatment with antipsychotics and other medications was categorised according to medication type and duration, and the association between medication use and the treated periodontal disease was assessed through logistic regression. Results: Among 3610 patients with newly diagnosed schizophrenia, 2373 (65.7%) had an incidence of treated periodontal disease during the 1-year follow-up. Female sex (adjusted odds ratios [OR] 1.40; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.20–1.63); young age (adjusted OR 0.99; 95% CI 0.98–0.99); a 2-year history of periodontal disease (adjusted OR 2.45; 95% CI 1.84–3.26); high income level (adjusted OR 2.24; 95% CI 1.64–3.06) and exposure to first-generation (adjusted OR 1.89; 95% CI 1.54–2.32) and secondary-generation (adjusted OR 1.33; 95% CI 1.11–1.58) antipsychotics, anticholinergics (adjusted OR 1.24; 95% CI 1.03–1.50) and antihypertensives (adjusted OR 1.91; 95% CI 1.64–2.23) were independent risk factors for periodontal disease. Hyposalivation – an adverse effect of first-generation antipsychotics (FGAs) (adjusted OR 2.00; 95% CI 1.63–2.45), anticholinergics (adjusted OR 1.27; 95% CI 1.05–1.53) and antihypertensives (adjusted OR 1.90; 95% CI 1.63–2.22) – was associated with increased risk of periodontal disease. Therefore, hypersalivation due to FGA use (adjusted OR 0.72; 95% CI 0.59–0.88) was considered a protective factor. Conclusions: The current study highlights that early prevention of periodontal disease in individuals with schizophrenia is crucial. Along with paying more attention to the development of periodontal disease, assessing oral health regularly, helping with oral hygiene, and lowering consumption of sugary drinks and tobacco, emphasis should also be given by physicians to reduce the prescription of antipsychotics to the extent possible under efficacious pharmacotherapy for schizophrenia.

The objective of this study was to verify whether caries and periodontal diseases, when present on the distal surface of the second molars (M2s), are associated with the eruption of the third molars (M3s). In this split‐mouth study, we evaluated 70 elderly patients with unilateral maxillary or mandibular M3s who presented to the outpatient clinics of two hospitals. Patients underwent comprehensive oral examinations and radiographical measurements, and we assessed the outcomes of periodontal disease and caries. Periodontal measurements included plaque index, bleeding on probing, and periodontal probing pocket depth (PD). Moreover, caries were assessed through visual–tactile examination and radiography. We performed the χ² test to determine factors associated with M3 and non‐M3 outcomes. Eighty‐one unilateral erupted M3s were observed in the study patients. Both the distobuccal region (p < 0.0001) and the distolingual region (p = 0.006) had a higher PD on the nonextraction side than the extraction side, and the caries rate was significantly higher on the nonextraction side than on the extraction side (p <0.0001 on M2 with caries and p = 0.003 on M2 with distal caries). M3 eruption, at the same or different occlusal plane levels of M2, is a risk factor for periodontal diseases and caries in M2s in elderly patients. M3s may continue to negatively impact dental health well into later life.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and periodontitis are suggested to be closely linked based on microbial dysbiosis, but limited subgingival bacteria have been proven in the pathogenesis of RA. We enrolled 30 RA patients and 25 controls and divided them into three groups with matched age, gender, and diabetes statuses: group AM (all of the matched participants), group PD (periodontally diseased), and group PH (periodontally healthy). Their subgingival microbial composition was determined by V3–V4 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Significant differences in subgingival microbial clustering between the RA patients and controls were observed in groups AM and PD. Among the taxa enriched in RA, Aminipila butyrica and Peptococcus simiae were the only two species displaying positive correlation to the level of anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPAs) in both of the groups. Surprisingly, the median of relative abundances of A. butyrica and P. simiae were 0% in the controls of group PD. Furthermore, a gene encoding arginine deiminase with the capability to produce citrulline was addressed in the complete genome sequence of A. butyrica. This is the first study to elucidate the important roles of A. butyrica and P. simiae as periodontal bacteria leading to RA possibly through the induction of ACPA production.

: Genetic polymorphisms in the vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene are related to the immune response and bone metabolism, both of which are implicated in the pathogenesis of periodontitis. This study was to investigate the association between VDR-gene polymorphisms and periodontitis among a Taiwanese Han ethnic population. Ninety-two aggressive periodontitis (AgP), 385 chronic periodontitis (CP) and 163 healthy controls (HC) were recruited from dental clinics. Demographic characteristics and possible confounding factors were obtained using a self-reported questionnaire. The VDR rs731236 (TaqI), rs7975232 (ApaI), rs1544410 (BsmI), and rs2228570 (FokI) polymorphisms were genotyped using PCR-RFLP methods. Statistical analyses were applied to determine the associations. The individual VDR polymorphisms were not associated with risk of AgP and CP. The f allele of rs2228570 was related to decreased risk for AgP. Subjects with TAbF (adjusted OR = 7.2, 95% CI = 3.2-7.2, p < 0.0001) or TAbf (adjusted OR = 0.17, 95% CI = 0.05-0.48, p = 0.002) combined polymorphisms were significantly associated with AgP. Subjects with Tabf (adjusted OR = 2.6, 95% CI = 1.8-3.8, p < 0.0001), TAbF (adjusted OR = 4.4, 95% CI = 2.6-8.1, p < 0.0001), TabF (adjusted OR = 0.36, 95% CI = 0.2-0.5, p < 0.0001), or TAbf (adjusted OR = 0.45, 95% CI = 0.3-0.7, p = 0.001) combined polymorphisms were significantly associated with CP. The study indicates that VDR gene polymorphisms are associated with AgP and CP in a Taiwanese Han population.