Torus Mandibularis in Patients Receiving Hemodialysis

• Main Authors: Pei-Ching Chang, Shao-Yu Tai, Chia-Lin Hsu, Aileen I. Tsai, Jen-Fen Fu, I-Kuan Wang, Cheng-Hao Weng, Tzung-Hai Yen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-09-01
• Series: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
• Subjects: torus mandibularis; oral torus; hemodialysis; hyperparathyroidism; parathyroid hormone; osteodystrophy
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/18/9451
• ISSN: 1661-7827; 1660-4601

Reports on the prevalence of torus mandibularis among dialysis patients have been limited and inconclusive. A wide variety of oral manifestations has been found in patients with hyperparathyroidism. Furthermore, uremia-related changes in facial bone structures have been described in the literature. This prospective observational study examined 322 hemodialysis patients treated at the Chang Gung Memorial Hospital from 1 August to 31 December 2016. Two subgroups were identified: patients with torus mandibularis (n = 25) and those without (n = 297). Clinical oral examinations including inspection and palpation were employed. Our study found that most mandibular tori were symmetric (84.0%), nodular (96.0%), less than 2 cm in size (96.0%), and located in the premolar area (92.0%). Poor oral hygiene was observed among these patients, with 49.7% and 24.5% scoring 3 and 4, respectively, on the Quigley-Hein plaque index. More than half (55.0%) of patients lost their first molars. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that blood phosphate level (odds ratio = 1.494, <i>p</i> = 0.029) and younger age (odds ratio = 0.954, <i>p</i> = 0.009) correlated significantly with torus mandibularis. The prevalence of torus mandibularis in patients receiving hemodialysis in this study was 7.8%. Younger age and a higher blood phosphate level were predictors for torus mandibularis in these patients.