The role of the immune system is to protect the body from foreign invaders, such as viruses and bacteria. Sometimes, however, this system goes awry and the immune response, which normally targets only outside elements, turns against the body’s own cells, attacking them, resulting in the production of large quantities of autoantibodies. Some studies suggest that scleroderma is an autoimmune disease. The main evidence for this notion is the fact that SSc patients have specific autoantibodies. In the case of scleroderma, fibroblast cells (a type of cell in the body which produces collagen and is important in wound healing) are abnormally overactivated and overproduce collagen that spreads throughout the skin and various internal organs, causing inflammation, leading to tissue fibrosis (scarring).
How does scleroderma affect oral health?
Scleroderma can make it difficult to maintain good oral hygiene practices, which in turn may lead to dental problems such as tooth decay and gum disease. These conditions may be aggravated by the narrowing of the mouth, dry mouth, pain on chewing as well as limited manual dexterity when hands and fingers are affected.
To prevent these dental problems from occurring and learn different methods to help overcome these difficulties, I invite you to read the pamphlet Dental care in Sclerodermaprepared by Mervyn Gornitsky, DDS, of the Department of Dentistry at Montreal’s SMBD Jewish General Hospital, and Sabrina Gravel, M.Sc., of the Canadian Scleroderma Research Group (CSRG).
Is scleroderma a hereditary disease?
At present, it is unclear what exactly triggers this autoimmune disease. Research is being conducted to find out if there is a genetic susceptibility to scleroderma, but as of yet the disease does not appear to be hereditary. There is no direct cure for scleroderma. Because the exact cause is unknown, any treatment is patient-specific and aimed at making symptoms of the disease more tolerable. Thus, it is imperative to continue research to find the underlying causes of this disease, develop new treatments to adequately relieve patients and, ultimately, find a cure that will allow patients to overcome scleroderma.
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