Parkinson's disease and oral manifestations

Parkinson''s disease (PD) is a chronic progressive neurodegenerative disorder affecting millions of people worldwide. It is characterized by a progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra region of the brain which affects movement and can cause a range of physical and cognitive symptoms.While the main motor symptoms of PD such as tremor rigidity and bradykinesia are well known the disease can also present a range of non-motor symptoms including oral manifestations.Oral manifestations in PD patients can include a variety of problems related to the oral cavity teeth and gums. Several studies have suggested that the prevalence of oral manifestations in PD is high with some estimates suggesting that up to 80% of PD patients may experience these symptoms.The exact causes of these manifestations in PD patients are not well understood but several factors are thought to contribute to their development.