Occurrence and predictors of gingivitis and supragingival calculus in a population of Brazilian adults

Abstract: The aim of this study was to determine the occurrence of gingivitis and calculus and their predictors in a population of adults in Brazil. A representative sample of 758 adults from 35 to 59 years of age from Porto Alegre city was examined. A structured questionnaire was applied. The Gingival Bleeding Index and the presence of calculus were measured at 4 sites/tooth. Multivariable logistic models were fitted to determine the predictors for gingival bleeding at >20% of sites. Overall, 96.5% (95% confidence interval [CI]=95.1-98.0) of individuals had ≥ 1 bleeding site. The mean percentages of sites with gingivitis and calculus were 26.1% and 44.6%, respectively. The odds of gingivitis decreased by ∼45% for individuals ≥40 years old compared to younger adults. Individuals that never performed interproximal cleaning and non-whites had an approximately two times higher chance of gingivitis. Smokers had lower chances of gingivitis than never-smokers (odds ratio=0.40; 95% CI=0.24-0.68). Higher numbers of missing teeth were associated with higher chances of gingivitis. The percentage of calculus was significantly associated with skin color, education, proximal cleaning, smoking exposure, dental visits, and tooth loss. It can be concluded that the occurrence of gingivitis and calculus was high in this Brazilian population, and it was associated with age, skin color, education, self-reported proximal cleaning, smoking, dental care, and tooth loss.

Quais são as evidências sobre a inter-relação entre a doença periodontal e a hipertensão arterial? / What are the evidence about the interrelationship between the periodontal disease and arterial hypertension?

O objetivo desse estudo foi discutir as evidências atuais sobre a associação entre a doença periodontal (DP) e a hipertensão arterial (HA). Por meio de uma revisão de literatura, analisou-se a relação entre ambas as doenças a partir de dados epidemiológicos, bem como o impacto destas em marcadores clínicos e inflamatórios. A HA é uma condição crônica caraterizada pelo aumento da pressão sanguínea nas artérias e acomete grande parte da população mundial. Uma interação entre fatores genéticos e ambientais tem sido reconhecida como responsável por esta elevação da pressão arterial (PA). Mecanismos inflamatórios e a liberação de substâncias vasoativas resultam em alterações no endotélio vascular, refletindo em uma diminuição da elasticidade dos vasos, e também contribuindo para a formação inicial da aterosclerose, o que resulta na elevação da PA. Paralelamente, a DP, sendo uma doença infecto-inflamatória, tem sido apontada como capaz de contribuir com a carga sistêmica de mediadores inflamatórios e, neste sentido, poderia estar relacionada à HA, inclusive com uma associação bidirecional. Estudos sugerem que a HA pode afetar vasos do periodonto, alterando a vascularização local e interferindo no processo de agressão-defesa dos tecidos de suporte, determinando o agravamento da DP. De fato, maior prevalência de DP em pacientes hipertensos é reportada, além da elevação sérica de indicadores inflamatórios (p. ex. proteína c reativa e fibrinogênio), que atuam na progressão da HA, em pacientes periodontais. Dessa forma, uma ligação entre a DP e a HA parece plausível, no entanto, uma associação causal ainda não está estabelecida. (AU)

The objective of this study was to discuss current evidence about the association between periodontal disease (PD) and arterial hypertension (AH). Through a literature review, the relationship between both diseases was analyzed from epidemiological data, as well as their impact on clinical and inflammatory markers. AH is a chronic condition characterized by increased blood pressure in the arteries and affects a large part of the world population. An interaction between genetic and environmental factors has been recognized as responsible for this elevation of blood pressure (BP). Inflammatory mechanisms and the release of vasoactive substances results invascular endothelium alterations, reflecting in a decrease of the elasticity of the vessels, and also contributing to the initial formation of atherosclerosis, which results in the elevation of BP. At the same time, PD, which is an infectious-inflammatory disease, has been identified as able to contribute to the systemic burden of inflammatory mediators and, in this sense, could be related to AH, including with a bidirectional association. Studies suggested that AH can affect periodontal vessels, changing the local vascularization and interfering in the aggressive-defense process of the supporting tissues, which determines the aggravation of PD. In fact, a higher prevalence of PD is reported in hypertensive patients, in addition to serum elevation of inflammatory indicators (e.g. c-reactive protein and fibrinogen), which act in the progression of AH, in periodontal patients. Thus, a link between PD and AH seems plausible; however, a causal association is not yet established. (AU)