Background

Dental health in celiac patients is poorly surveyed, few and small studies have been conducted and therefore we know little whether the disease affects patients' dental health.

HUNT4 has collected extensive data on the incidence of celiac disease and dental health and this allows us to investigate whether the disease causes dental health problems.

Purpose

We will survey whether celiac patients have a greater need for treatment than others without coeliac disease and whether there are areas of oral health that are more at risk than others. If this is the case, the reasons for this must be identified and measures to prevent dental health related problems established.

Methods

All adult participants in HUNT4 are screened for celiac disease with a blood sample test. Symptoms, co-morbidity, deficiency states and environmental, lifestyle-related and genetic risk factors in celiac disease should be mapped.

A proportion of participants from HUNT4 Dental Health have celiac disease and for these, a complete dataset of dental health data is available. For celiac patients without a complete dental examination, OPG, saliva samples for secretion rate and for analysis of biomarkers and oral microbiome have been taken, and dental health questionnaire from HUNT4 is answered. Nutrition is also mapped.

Cooperating Institutions and External Financing

• NTNU
• HUNT Research Centre
• UiT
• UiO
• Hospital in Levanger
• Levanger Dental Clinic