Aim

Assessment of periapical and pulp disease prevalence as a risk factor for secondary uveitis in patients attending ISSSTE (Social Security Institute for Government Workers) in 2013 in the city of Merida, Yucatan, Mexico.

Introduction

Periapical and pulp diseases can elicit inflammatory reactions which might affect vision.

Material and methods

The present study was of a descriptive, cross-sectioned and observational nature. Patients’ Informed consent was secured. System identification card included demographic data, intraoral clinical examination results of 12 patients with an a priori diagnosis of secondary uveitis confirmed by a dentist, with presence of pulp or periapical disease along with history of pain (duration, frequency, type and quality), pulp examinations (palpation, percussion, thermal and vitality tests). Panoramic and periapical X-rays were taken, descriptive statistics were conducted as well as chi-square (χ 2) test of goodness of fit for two categories with Yates correction.

Results

Out of the 34 patients diagnosed with different types of uveitis, 35.29% was established as secondary uveitis. Of the aforementioned patients, 33.33% were in the 48-57 years age range. The examination encompassed 19 teeth of the 12 patients; out of these, 26.32% exhibited pulp disease and 73.68 periapical disease.

Conclusion

Diseases involving dental periapex and pulp may cause inflammatory reaction in the eyes.