Caries risk in patients with Crohn's disease: a pilot study.

Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease of unknown cause with unpredictable remissions and exacerbations. Associated nutritional deficiencies include those involving zinc, magnesium, vitamin B12, folic acid, and vitamin D. A group of patients with Crohn's disease underwent detailed cariologic investigation at the Department of Cariology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm. Factors predisposing to caries were evaluated according to Krasse's concept of caries risk. On this basis, 11 of the 15 patients had a high caries risk. The concept of caries risk acknowledges the multifactorial background of caries initiation and progression and, in this pilot study, has proved to be an appropriate basis for evaluation of patients with chronic disease. Guidelines for preventive programs appropriate for patients with Crohn's disease, based on the findings of this study, are presented.