Menopause: Changes in the Mouth Cavity and Preventive Strategies

Abstract

Aim: Menopause is a term used to describe the permanent cessation of the primary functions of the human ovaries. Menopause typically occurs in women in midlife and signals the end of the fertile phase of a woman's life. The transition from reproductive to non-reproductive is the result of a major reduction in female hormonal production by the ovaries. During the menopause remarkable changes happen in the mouth cavity as osteoporosis, periodontal disease, Burning Mouth Syndrome (BMS) and xerostomia. The aim of this work is to describe the changes that occur during the menopause in the mouth cavity and the preventive protocols used in the Preventive Dental Department of the University of Milan. Material and Methods: A systematic literature review about the menopause and its modifications in the mouth cavity have been made using the data base Medline and key words as "oral health" and "menopause" have been searched. Discussion and Conclusions: Different changes in women oral condition can be observed during menopause. These pathological conditions are typical of the hormonal phase and they must be known by clinicians in order to make a correct intervention. Problems as osteoporosis, periodontal disease, Burning mouth syndrome and xerostomia could be prevented using specific protocols.