Indagine sullo status parodontale di pazienti depressi in terapia con antidepressivi triciclici

OBJECTIVES. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effects of tricyclic antidepressants on oral health. MATERIALS AND METHODS. A questionnaire including information about oral hygiene and diet was filled in by every subject; moreover a periodontal examination and a salivary test were performed on 30 patients receiving chronic antidepressant therapy with tricyclics (test group) and on 30 healthy patients (control group). t-test and Chi-square test were used in order to evaluate statistical differences between the groups and the significant rate was set at p < 0.05. RESULTS. The test group patients showed a higher level (p < 0.05) of plaque accumulation, gingival inflammation, bleeding on probing and probing depth in comparison with the control group. No significant difference was observed as regards clinical attachment loss and furcations (p > 0.05). The test group showed a higher xerostomia and a reduced gum brushing duration and technique (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS. The different periodontal status found in subjects taking tricyclics may be due to oral hygiene behavior and partly to the antimuscarinic effect of these drugs with consequent xerostomia.