What Oral Health Professionals Need to Know About Hypothyroidism
As of 2022, hypothyroidism affected approximately 11.7% of the United States population, representing around 30 million people ages 18 and older.1 This is an increase in cases from the previous estimates (gathered from data collected between 1988-1994), which placed the incidence of hypothyroidism at 4.6%.1 The percentage of untreated hypothyroidism cases also increased from 11.8% to 14.4% between 2012 and 2019.1 The increase in prevalence may be attributed to the rise in cases of subclinical hypothyroidism (mild-thyroid failure) and the wait-and-see approach to diagnosis and treatment. Dental professionals need to be aware of the signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism to assist with diagnosis and prevent complications that may arise from treating patients with uncontrolled hypothyroidism.2
Hypothyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland doesn’t produce enough thyroid hormones. These hormones regulate the body’s metabolism (ie, how it uses energy). The thyroid gland is a small butterfly-shaped gland located in the front of the neck and is a significant part of the endocrine system. It uses iodine to produce the thyroid hormones thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), which impact many physiological functions.3
The thyroid gland and associated hormones are responsible for regulation (eg, mood, metabolism, temperature, immunity); development and growth (eg, brain, tissues, organs); nutrient metabolism (eg, carbohydrates, proteins, fats); and cardiovascular function (eg, heart rate, strength of cardiac contractions, blood pressure).4 The hypothalamus and pituitary gland regulate thyroid hormone production in a feedback loop known as the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis. The pituitary gland then signals the thyroid gland to produce hormones.5
* References and figures can be found in the original article via the link above.
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