Moderate and severe periodontitis are positively associated with metabolic syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the association between periodontitis severity (exposure) and metabolic syndrome (MetS - outcome), using two criteria for diagnosis of the outcome, since this relationship remains unexplored. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A case-control study was conducted with 870 individuals: 408 with first MetS diagnosis (cases) and 462 without MetS (controls). Participants' general information was obtained using a questionnaire and laboratory data was collected from medical records. Periodontitis severity criteria followed the Center for Disease Control and Prevention: none, mild, moderate, and severe. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were determined by logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Findings showed a positive association between moderate and severe periodontitis and MetS: ORadjusted = 1.64 (95% CI: 1.01 to 2.68) and ORadjusted = 1.94 (95% CI: 1.19 to 3.16), respectively, after adjustment for age, sex, schooling level, smoking habit, and cardiovascular disease. The adjusted measurements showed that among individuals with moderate or severe periodontitis, the probability of having MetS was around two times greater than among those without periodontitis, and that the chance was greater among participants with severe periodontitis than those with moderate periodontitis. CONCLUSION: An association between the severity of periodontal status and MetS was found, suggesting a possible relationship between the two diseases. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: MetS influences the etiology of cardiovascular diseases, one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide. The findings suggest that the greater the severity of periodontitis, the greater is the association magnitude with MetS. The health professional needs to recognize that the importance of periodontal disease may play in MetS.

Common mental disorder is associated with periodontitis.

OBJECTIVES: This research evaluated the association between exposure to common mental disorder (CMD) and the presence of periodontitis. BACKGROUND: Common mental disorder is characterized by the presence of irritation, fatigue, insomnia, forgetfulness, decreased ability to concentrate, anxiety, and depression. It has been associated with several diseases; however, there are few studies that have associated it with periodontitis. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was carried out with 621 individuals. Data collection involved the application of a general questionnaire and the self-reporting questionnaire for diagnosis of CMD. The diagnosis of periodontitis involved a full mouth periodontal examination using: clinical attachment level, probing depth, and bleeding on probing. Prevalence ratios and 95% confidence intervals between CMD (exposure) and periodontitis (outcome) were obtained. RESULTS: In the final sample, 38.16% (237) of the individuals were classified with CMD. Among these, 28.27% (67) had periodontitis. Association measurements showed that the occurrence of periodontitis among those exposed to CMD is approximately 50% higher than in those without this mental condition, with statistical significance, after adjustment for age, sex, family income, current smoking habit, alcohol beverage consumption, and cardiovascular disease (PRadjusted  = 1.54, 95% CI: [1.13 to 2.10]). CONCLUSIONS: The findings showed a positive association between exposure to CMD and periodontitis, revealing the importance of broadening public actions targeting mental health, which seems to be related to oral health, mainly due to the high frequency of the diseases in the studied sample.

Is there association between stress and periodontitis?

OBJECTIVE: This study estimated the association between stress and periodontitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 621 individuals. Information about individuals was obtained through a questionnaire. Stress was evaluated using the Perceived Stress Scale. The diagnosis of periodontitis was based on a complete periodontal examination including clinical attachment level, probing depth, and bleeding on probing. Prevalence ratios (PR), crude and adjusted, and their respective 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were estimated by Poisson regression analysis. RESULTS: In the final sample, 48.47% (301) of the individuals were classified as having stress, of which, 23.92% (72) had the diagnosis of periodontitis. Association measurements between stress and probing depth ≥ 4 mm (PRadjusted = 1.28, 95%CI [1.04 to 1.58]), stress and clinical attachment level ≥ 5 mm (PRadjusted = 1.15, 95%CI [1.01 to 1.31]), and stress and periodontitis (PRadjusted = 1.36, 95%CI [1.01 to 1.83]) showed that the frequency of these outcomes among those exposed to stress was 15-36% higher than those without the condition of stress, after adjustment for age, sex, schooling level, current smoking habit, pulmonary disease, and body mass index. CONCLUSIONS: The findings showed positive association between exposure to stress and the presence of periodontitis, reaffirming the need to prevent and control stress. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Although there are limitations in this study, the results showed that an association exists between stress and periodontitis, signaling the necessity of a multidisciplinary attention when considering the psychological status in the management of oral and general health conditions of the individual.

Association between osteoporosis treatment and severe periodontitis in postmenopausal women.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the association between osteoporosis treatment and severe periodontitis in postmenopausal women. METHODS: This cross-sectional study comprised of 492 postmenopausal women, 113 women in osteoporosis treatment, and 379 not treated. Osteoporosis treatment consisted of systemic estrogen alone, or estrogen plus progestin, and calcium and vitamin D supplements, for at least 6 months. Severe periodontitis was defined as at least two interproximal tooth sites with clinical attachment loss of at least 6 mm, and at least one interproximal site with probing depth of at least 5 mm; and dental caries experience was measured using the decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) index. Analysis included descriptive statistics and Poisson multivariate analysis with robust variance. RESULTS: Women receiving osteoporosis treatment had less periodontal probing depth, less clinical attachment loss, and less gingival bleeding than women not receiving treatment for osteoporosis (P ≤ 0.05). In the osteoporosis treatment group, the estimated mean DMFT index score was approximately 20, the most frequent component being the number of missing teeth, and in the nontreated group, the DMFT index was approximately 19. The prevalence of severe periodontitis was 44% lower in the osteoporosis treatment group than in the nontreatment group. The prevalence ratioadjusted was 0.56, 95% confidence interval was 0.31 to 0.99 (P = 0.05), after adjustments for smoking, age, family income, and visit to the dentist. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that women treated with estrogen for postmenopausal osteoporosis have a lower prevalence of severe periodontitis than women not receiving treatment.