Dental Caries as an Ill Effect of Long Term Medication

By definition Dental caries is an irreversible microbial disease of the calcified tissues of the teeth, characterized by demineralization of the inorganic portion and destruction of the organic substance of the tooth, which often leads to cavitations. The etiology of dental caries is generally agreed to be a complex problem complicated by many indirect factors that obscure the direct cause or causes. There is no universally accepted opinion for the etiology of dental caries. The oral flora and the saliva plays a very important contributing factor in dental caries. Saliva is the most valuable oral fluid is critical to the preservation and management of oral health. Saliva containing various organic and inorganic substances provides primary natural protection for teeth and soft tissues in the oral cavity assists in mastication, deglutition and digestion of food. The secretion of saliva can be affected due to various local and systemic causes. However if a patient is taking medication and has altered salivary secretion the differential diagnosis should include the possibility of an adverse drug reaction. The drugs may lead to alteration in the flow rate of saliva. Salivary dysfunction as a clinical entity has received considerable attention in recent years. This article critically reviews the dental hard tissue alterations especially dental caries that are caused due to reduced salivary secretion as a result of long term medication.