Abstract

Background: Chronic renal failure (CRF) is defined as a progressive decline in renal function associated with a reduced glomerular filtration rate and about 90% patients of renal failure have oral symptoms such as dry mouth, change of taste, mucosal pallor, and uremic odor. Only few studies were performed in patients reported oral health status of CRF. Therefore, need was felt to conduct the study to assess the prevalence of oral manifestations in patients of renal failure undergoing dialysis.
Objective: To assess the prevalence of oral manifestation and to compare the oral manifestations among patients of renal failure undergoing dialysis and healthy patients.
Materials and Methods: The study was conducted in the Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Babu Banarasi Das College of Dental Sciences and in Nephrology Department of Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India, between January 1, 2014 and April 1, 2014. Hundred patients enrolled in it were divided into two groups: 50 patients in study group undergoing dialysis and 50 patients in control group comprising healthy individuals. Result: Oral manifestations and signs and symptoms were more in patients undergoing dialysis than in healthy individuals where unpleasant taste showed highest prevalence followed by uremic odor, xerostomia, and so forth. Conclusion: This study shows increase in the prevalence of oral manifestations in patients of CRF. As the incidence of CRF continues to rise worldwide, early diagnosis of oral manifestations and their appropriate management can improve the quality of life of patients.