Periodontal Therapy Can Improve Arterial Structure

As reported by the journal Hypertension, a team of researchers from the University of Sydney, and other Australian and U.S. institutions, enrolled 273 aboriginal Australians who had periodontitis (advanced gum disease) in a parallel-group, randomized clinical trial.  The difference between the two groups was that one received full-mouth periodontal scaling in one visit and the other group received none.  They compared the groups with regard to carotid artery thickness and function.

After 12 months, those in the group treated for periodontitis experienced a significant decrease in intima-media thickness--and indicator of arterial structure--and those in the untreated group did not.

There were no differences between the groups in pulse wave velocity, an indicator of arterial function.
They concluded that the non-surgical periodontal therapy (scaling) significantly reduced the progression  of thickening of the carotid artery.


Source:  JADA, 8/1/2014. vol. 145, no. 8, 802

Robert G. Tupac, DDS, FACP, Inc.,
Diplomate, American Board of Prosthodontics
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