**2. Kidney diseases**

Kidneys play one of the vital roles in human beings as excretory organs. Their major functions include excretion of metabolic wastes, electrolyte regulation, and endocrine regulatory functions. Each human kidney is composed of about one million anatomical and functional units called nephron which is further composed of glomerule and tubule. Renal diseases pose a major health problem of modern world [5]. Compromised renal function might lead finally to renal failure which is characterized by the loss of functional capacity of nephrons associated with reduced glomerular functional rate [6]. The most frequent etiology of chronic renal failure includes diabetes mellitus, hypertension, glomerulonephritis, polycystic kidney disease, and pyelonephritis. Previously, glomerulonephritis was known to be the main cause of chronic renal failure; however, now diabetes mellitus and hypertension are the etiologic factors of the disease today which are considered to have genetic origin mostly [7, 8].

Transplantation is the ideal treatment for patients with end-stage renal disease. But, due to limited availability of matched donors for kidney transplantation, there has been an increased focus on alternative treatment modalities like hemodialysis

**27**

*Hemodialysis and Oral Health*

end-stage renal disease.

filtrate waste products [10].

modality.

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.87085*

**3. Hemodialysis and oral health**

and peritoneal dialysis. In the last three to four decades, improvements in dialysis and transplantation have reduced morbidity and mortality among patients with

Hemodialysis treatment modality is usually prescribed for prolonged duration with weekly frequency of once, twice, or more than twice a week, thus, creating a stressful environment for the patients [9]. This long-standing treatment modality has affected the survival rate among the patients positively. However, the chronic condition might influence the incidence of other systemic diseases in these patients primarily due to the lack of their ability to control water and electrolyte balance and

Further, oral health among these patients undergoing hemodialysis has been reported to be poor primarily due to their delicate state, neglect of oral hygiene, manifestations of systemic conditions, and immunosuppression [11, 12]. The specific effects of chronic renal disease and renal replacement therapy on periodontal tissues include gingival hyperplasia, increased level of plaque, calculus, and destructive periodontal disease. The findings have been reported by many studies [10, 13, 14]. It is interesting to note further that the dental diseases have coherent relation with the treatment duration of hemodialysis as well [8]. Very few studies have presented a cumulative data concerning the effect of duration of hemodialysis therapy on oral health of the patients undergoing hemodialysis. Hence the present chapter gives an insight of the oral health manifestations of hemodialysis and the underlying kidney disease correlating it with the duration of the treatment

**4. Influence of hemodialysis on oral health according to various studies**

Hemodialysis has emerged as an optimum treatment modality for the patients with compromised renal function significantly reducing the mortality rate of these diseases. Researchers have provided with substantial evidence that chronic systemic diseases like renal failure and its treatment modalities have a significant effect on the oral environment resulting in an increased burden of oral diseases among these

*Renal Diseases*

**2. Kidney diseases**

mostly [7, 8].

risk factor approach addressing the problems and issues connected with noncom-

Kidneys play one of the vital roles in human beings as excretory organs. Their major functions include excretion of metabolic wastes, electrolyte regulation, and endocrine regulatory functions. Each human kidney is composed of about one million anatomical and functional units called nephron which is further composed of glomerule and tubule. Renal diseases pose a major health problem of modern world [5]. Compromised renal function might lead finally to renal failure which is characterized by the loss of functional capacity of nephrons associated with reduced glomerular functional rate [6]. The most frequent etiology of chronic renal failure includes diabetes mellitus, hypertension, glomerulonephritis, polycystic kidney disease, and pyelonephritis. Previously, glomerulonephritis was known to be the main cause of chronic renal failure; however, now diabetes mellitus and hypertension are the etiologic factors of the disease today which are considered to have genetic origin

Transplantation is the ideal treatment for patients with end-stage renal disease. But, due to limited availability of matched donors for kidney transplantation, there has been an increased focus on alternative treatment modalities like hemodialysis

municable diseases can influence the major health gains worldwide [3, 4].

**26**

and peritoneal dialysis. In the last three to four decades, improvements in dialysis and transplantation have reduced morbidity and mortality among patients with end-stage renal disease.
