Dentistry · Periodontics
This narrative review examined research on oral effects reported in people taking systemic isotretinoin for acne. It found that reduced saliva, dry mouth, chapped lips, and other dryness-related symptoms were the most consistent findings, while evidence about cavities and gum health was less uniform.
Researchers analyzed Japanese health-insurance claims for people aged 75 or younger who had tooth extractions between April 2012 and March 2024. After dental antibiotic guidelines were introduced or updated, use of third-generation cephalosporins fell overall, especially in some hospitals and later in dental clinics; surgical-site infection rates did not change in the analysis. Because this was an observational study, the findings show patterns associated with the guidelines rather than proving that the guidelines alone caused them.
