Oral Health in Endocrine Disorders

The endocrine system contains a highly integrated and widely distributed group of organs that orchestrates a state of metabolic equilibrium, or homeostasis, among the various organs of the body. Various endocrine dysfunctions are reflected in the oral cavity and because of its easy accessibility to clinical examination; it is valuable for the analysis of dysfunction. Pituitary gland regulates the rate of growth and any deficiency of growth hormone gives a quantitative effect, that is a deficiency during a period of rapid growth give a hypoplastic pattern (smaller size but normal proportions) while an excess produces a hyper plastic pattern6.Hypopituitarism- This results in marked deceleration in the growth of all tissues and the earlier the onset, the more severe the result. In the pituitary dwarfism the effect on cranio-facial tissues is similar to the rest of the body6. In hypopituitarism due to failure in eruption results in an insufficient increase in vertical height and arch length which results in crowding. There is higher incident of hypodontia, teeth tend to be reduced in size and delayed tooth emergence may result from a delay in dental development.