The gingiva may be affected by sex hormones and several studies were done previously to prove such changes. This lead for Dr. Onur Oczelik and his colleagues of Cukurova University in Adana, Turkey to conduct a study on the effects of anabolic androgenic steroids abuse to the gums. If anabolic androgenic steroids produce muscle hypertrophy, it also produces the same effect on the gums. This could lead to severe gum disease because bacteria are easy to accumulate in the plaque.
In the study they compared bodybuilders who are steroid users for less than a year versus those bodybuilders who have never used steroids at all. Based on the scale given, steroid users have higher scores compared to non-steroid users. A higher score means having a worse gum condition while a lower score means having a more normal gum condition. It was not determined in the study if overall gingival enlargement is reversible. Some of the findings were thicker gums, more encroachment of gingival on teeth and overly large gingival on steroid users.
Aside from this, periodontal disease can also result from depression, mania, psychosis and aggression, brought about by steroid abuse.
This study should serve as additional information for dental practitioners on the ill effects of steroids on the overall periodontal health.
From Medpage Today:
“Because the non-medical use of anabolic androgenic steroid remains prevalent and seems to increase despite legislation, dentists and periodontists should be familiar with the adverse effects of these synthetic derivatives of testosterone on the gingival tissues,” they concluded.
If you would like to make a comment, please fill out the form below.
