Periodontal management of patients with cardiovascular diseases

Managing the Systemic Impact of Periodontitis

Periodontitis is a microbially driven host-mediated disease that leads to loss of periodontal attachment and bone. It is associated with elevation of systemic inflammatory markers and with the presence of systemic co-morbidities. Furthermore, periodontal treatment leads to a 24-48 h-long acute local and systemic inflammatory response. This systemic response might increase the burden of patients with compromised medical history and/or uncontrolled systemic diseases. The correlation between periodontitis and systemic diseases, the impact of periodontitis on the quality of life and public health, the effects of periodontal treatment on systemic health and disease, and the available methods to manage systemic inflammation after periodontal therapy are discussed. The main focus then shifts to a description of the existing evidence regarding the impact of periodontitis and periodontal treatment on systemic health and to the identification of approaches aiming to reduce the effect of periodontitis on systemic inflammation.

Excisional Biopsy of the Pyogenic Granuloma in Very High-Risk Patient

Oral surgery to remove pyogenic granuloma in a high-risk patient is reported. A 47-year-old man with gastroesophageal reflux disease, diabetes mellitus II, dyslipidemia, and chronic coronary insufficiency (myocardial infarction within 2 years) with episodes of unstable angina was submitted to an excisional biopsy of hemorrhagic lesion in the lingual right mandibular gingiva. During dental treatment, the arterial blood pressure, oxygen saturation, heart rate, and electrocardiogram were monitored. Local anesthesia was performed with 0.45 ml of 3% prilocaine with 0.03 IU/ml felypressin. The anticoagulant therapy was not interrupted. No local or systemic complications were noticed during or after the surgery.

Non-surgical periodontal treatment reduces cardiovascular risk in refractory hypertensive patients: a pilot study

AIM

To evaluate the effects of non-surgical periodontal treatment on left ventricular mass (LVM), arterial stiffness, systolic and diastolic blood pressure and plasma levels of inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen and interleukin-6) in refractory hypertension patients.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This interventional prospective cohort pilot study included 26 patients (53.6 ± 8.0 years old) diagnosed with refractory hypertension and generalized chronic periodontitis. Subjects received non-surgical periodontal treatment according to their needs. Plasma levels of systemic inflammation (CRP; fibrinogen and interleukin-6) and established cardiovascular risk factors [systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP), left ventricular mass (LVM) and arterial stiffness] were assessed at three time points (baseline, 3 months after baseline and 6 months after periodontal therapy).

RESULTS

Periodontal therapy significantly reduced all cardiovascular risk markers evaluated. Median values of SBP and DBP were reduced by 12.5 mmHg and 10.0 mmHg, respectively, whereas left ventricular mass (LVM) reduced by 12.9 g and pulse wave velocity reduced by 0.9 m/s (p < 0.01). Levels of CRP, IL-6 and fibrinogen lowered by 0.5 mg/dl, 1.4 pg/dl and 37.5 mg/dl (p < 0.01), respectively, 6 months after periodontal therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Periodontal therapy significantly reduced levels of CRP, IL-6, fibrinogen, blood pressure, LVM and arterial stiffness, lowering cardiovascular risk in refractory hypertensive patients.

Efficacy of Er:YAG laser in the treatment of chronic periodontitis: systematic review and meta-analysis

Scaling root planing (SRP) has been proven efficacious as the traditional treatment approach for chronic periodontitis. However, important limitations such as difficult access in deep pockets, grooves, and furcations have led to the development of new therapeutic strategies. The erbium-doped:yttrium-aluminium-garnet (Er:YAG) laser is one of the most promising laser types for periodontal therapy. Its efficacy in radicular debris removal and root smoothing has been proven in vitro. However, the clinical effectiveness of the Er:YAG laser remains controversial. The aim of the present systematic review was to systemically assess the scientific evidence for the effectiveness of Er:YAG laser compared to SRP in the treatment of chronic periodontitis. Electronic database searches of MEDLINE, Cochrane Controlled Clinical Trial Register, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects, CINAHL, Science Direct, ISI Web of Science, and SCOPUS were performed, as well as hand-searching of relevant journals through December 23, 2010. Quality assessment was made according to the CONSORT guidelines. The systematic review was performed according to the QUOROM statement and Cochrane Collaboration recommendations. Meta-analyses of the clinical attachment level gain, probing depth reduction, and changes in gingival recession were performed using weighted mean differences for continuous data with 95% confidence intervals, nested in a random effect model. No statistically significant differences were found in any of the investigated clinical parameters among the five random controlled trials (RCTs) entered into the study, indicating that there was no evidence of effectiveness. However, significant heterogeneity, a high risk of bias in three of the five included studies, and methodological shortcomings indicate that the results should be considered with caution. Future long-term, well-designed RCTs are needed to assess the scientific evidence of Er:YAG laser efficacy as an alternative treatment strategy to SRP.

Evaluation of pain levels after Nd: YAG laser and scalpel incisions: an experimental study in rats

BACKGROUND

Postoperative pain is a recognized sequel of periodontal surgery. The pain experience has been shown to peak in the first 24 hours following the procedure, and to decrease rapidly in subsequent days. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the pain levels following scalpel- and laser-incision of rat hind paws.

METHODS

The study was carried out on 10 albino Wistar male rats. Rats were randomly assigned to two groups: Group I (n = 5, laser surgery), or Group II (n = 5, conventional surgery with scalpel). For measuring mechanical hyperalgesia, the nociceptive threshold of the hind paw after mechanical stimulation was quantified using a Basile algesimeter. The measurements were done before the surgery and on the postoperative 1(st), 2(nd), 3(rd), and 7(th) days.

RESULTS

While the pain levels of the groups were similar before the surgical procedures, the laser-applied rats had significantly fewer nociceptive thresholds of the hind paw after mechanical stimulation compared with the scalpel-incised rats on the postoperative 1(st), 2(nd), 3(rd), and 7(th) days. Functional complications were not observed in the laser groups at three days after the surgery.

CONCLUSION

The results suggested that, for soft tissue surgery, Nd: YAG lasers have often led to shorter operative times, less pain, and fewer postoperative adverse events.

Associations between periodontal diseases and systemic diseases: a review of the inter-relationships and interactions with diabetes, respiratory diseases, cardiovascular diseases and osteoporosis

The aim of this review article is to examine the associations between periodontal diseases and common systemic diseases, namely diabetes, respiratory diseases, cardiovascular diseases and osteoporosis. A substantial number of review articles have been published to elucidate the relationships between these diseases; however, none provide a complete overview on this topic from the aspects of definition, classification, clinical characteristics and manifestations, inter-relationships and interactions, proposed schematic mechanisms, clinical implications and management of periodontal patients with these systemic diseases. The aim of this article is to provide an overall understanding and general concepts of these issues in a concise and inter-related manner.

Cardiac risk factors for dental procedures: knowledge among dental practitioners in Wales

OBJECTIVES

To determine knowledge and educational needs of dental practitioners in Wales regarding congenital or acquired cardiac disease and the provision of antibiotic prophylaxis.

DESIGN

Self-administered postal questionnaire.

SETTINGS

Cardiff University Dental Hospital, district general hospitals (HDS), all general dental practices (GDP) and community dental service (CDS) clinics throughout Wales. Methods A questionnaire sent to 1,182 dentists in Wales in 2004-5.

RESULTS

528 questionnaires were returned (a response rate of 45%). These were analysed using one-way analysis of variance to compare summary scores between the occupation groups. Significant differences in knowledge of cardiac risk factors for infective endocarditis and for dental procedures requiring cover were observed between the occupation groups. The majority of dentists (92% GDPs, 94% CDS and 77% HDS) requested postgraduate education in cardiac risk factors and laminated flow diagrams for their surgeries as the preferred educational format.

CONCLUSION

The knowledge of Welsh dentists regarding cardiac conditions or procedures which are risk factors for paediatric and adult patients varied according to place of work. The study identified potential for under- and over-prescription of antibiotic prophylaxis within the current guidance. There was confusion as to which patient groups and cardiac conditions required prophylaxis and for which particular dental procedures. Postgraduate education detailing advances in cardiology practice is necessary for dentists.

Prevalência e características associadas à síndrome metabólica em nipo-brasileiros com e sem doença periodontal

Verificou-se, num estudo transversal, a relação entre as doenças periodontais e a síndrome metabólica. Foram analisados dados de 1.315 nipo-brasileiros com idade entre 30 e 92 anos. Os indivíduos foram submetidos a exames físicos, odontológicos e laboratoriais. Os dados foram descritos através de médias e porcentagens e a associação entre as variáveis foi verificada por meio de regressão logística. Do total de sujeitos examinados, 215 (16,4%) apresentaram higidez periodontal, 484 (36,8%) edentulismo total, 513 (39%) gengivites, 85 (6,5%) periodontite inicial ou moderada e 18 (1,4%) periodontite avançada. A prevalência de síndrome metabólica entre os nipo-brasileiros foi 54,3%, e apesar de esta ter sido maior entre os que apresentaram periodontites quando comparados aos sem nenhum comprometimento da saúde bucal (51,5% vs. 48,8%) essa associação não foi estatisticamente significante. Neste estudo os indivíduos com síndrome metabólica se caracterizaram por pior perfil antropométrico e metabólico.