[The mouth of patients with acromegaly]

Abstract

Orofacial changes are frequent in acromegaly. Their evolution is slowly progressive. The lips (everted and thickened), the mandibular morphology (prognathism), the tongue (macroglossia), the soft palate and the uvula (increased and thickened), the parodontis (gingival hyperplasia, paradontitis), the teeth (increased interdental spaces, hypercementosis, increased dental mobility, multiple tooth loss) are concerned. Functional consequences are significant (obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, malocclusion, pain of the oral maxillofacial area, decrease of the quality of life). They are rarely noticed as the first symptoms of the disease and rarely responsible for the diagnosis of acromegaly because of a progressive development over a long period of time, and because of the low prevalence of the disease which can be unknown by dentists and dental surgeons. When patients are cured or well-controlled, abnormalities of soft tissues improve but are not always completely reversible and bone enlargement remain unchanged. If any corrective surgical procedures are to be performed, this should be carried out only after normalization of GH and IGF I levels.