• C P Bots, H S Brand, J H G Poorterman, B M van Amerongen, M Valentijn-Benz, E C I Veerman, P M ter Wee, and A V Nieuw Amerongen.
• Department of Oral Biochemistry, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. bots@filternet.nl
• Br Dent J. 2007 Jan 27; 202 (2): E3.

ObjectivesTo compare oral health, salivary flow rate, xerostomia and thirst in end stage renal disease (ESRD) patients remaining on dialysis treatment and after renal transplantation.DesignLongitudinal observation.SettingESRD patients recruited from dialysis centres in Amsterdam, The Hague and Utrecht, The Netherlands.MethodAt baseline and after two years, salivary flow rates, xerostomia and thirst were determined in 43 ESRD patients. The number of decayed missing filled teeth/surfaces (DMFT/DMFS) was recorded, and periodontal status assessed.ResultsAfter renal transplantation (n = 20), the salivary flow rate increased significantly from UWS = 0.30 +/- 0.21 ml/min to 0.44 +/- 0.29 ml/min (p <0.001) and the level of xerostomia and thirst decreased. After two years, the percentage of bleeding on probing in dialysis patients (n = 23) decreased from 29.5 +/- 25.4% to 10.3 +/- 12.3%, (p <0.05). No differences in DMFT and DMFS were observed between dialysis and renal transplant patients.ConclusionsDMFT, dental plaque, gingival bleeding and periodontal indices did not change remarkably after two years, comparing dialysis and renal transplant patients. Renal transplantation enhances salivary flow and decreases symptoms of xerostomia and thirst, and hence enhances the potential to improve the quality of life of affected individuals.

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