Assessment of oro-dental manifestations in a series of acromegalic patients, the AcroDent study

OBJECTIVE: The dental and periodontal impact of GH/IGF-1 hypersecretion has been poorly investigated until now. Our aim is to precisely describe the oro-dental state of acromegalic patients and to study the impact of GH/IGF-1 hypersecretion on patients’ reported oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL). METHODS: After collecting characteristics of their disease, acromegalic patients answered the GOHAI questionnaire assessing their OHRQoL, the AcroQoL questionnaire and then benefited from a complete stomatological and radiological examination (orthopantomogram systematically, retro-alveolar radiography or Cone Beam CT if necessary). RESULTS: In total, 29 patients aged 59.1 ± 16.0 years were included. The average DMFT index (sum of Decayed, Missing and Filled Teeth per patient) was 19.0 ± 7.8. 16/29 patients had a gingivitis and 18/29 a mild to moderate chronic periodontitis, but no case of severe chronic periodontitis was found, probably because the frequency of a protective thick gingival biotype was increased (9/29). No case of generalized gingival hypertrophy or diffuse hypercementosis was observed. According to the Add-GOHAI score, only 8/26 patients had a satisfactory OHRQoL. This parameter was correlated to the acromegaly-specific quality of life according to the AcroQoL score. Interestingly, 11/29 patients had bulky oral bony outgrowths (OBO), such as large maxillary or mandibular tori and multiple vestibular exostosis. CONCLUSIONS: The unsatisfactory OHRQoL reported by acromegalic patients contrasts with a rather good objective oro-dental state and annual oral examination seems relevant in this population. Finally, we report that huge OBO could be helpful signposts for the diagnosis of acromegaly.