An apparent unusual relationship between rampant caries and the oral mucosal manifestations of chronic graft-versus-host disease

Oral complications of chronic graft-versus-host disease are well known and may be present in up to 80% of persons with the condition. A case involving a 29-year-old woman with chronic graft-versus-host disease after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation is presented to illustrate how oral mucosal lesions may be adversely affected by severe caries. A variety of extensive mucosal lesions were continually irritated by the sharp edges of the carious teeth. Full-mouth extractions facilitated the complete resolution of the oral lesions. The patient has had no recurrence of oral lesions 4 years after the extractions and has shown no adverse mucosal changes 3 1 2 years after rehabilitation with complete dentures.