DT News - UK - Obesity may affect response to periodontal therapy

Dental Tribune International

Mon. 11 November 2013

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LONDON, UK: Body mass index (BMI) and obesity have been associated with the prevalence, extent and severity of periodontitis by a number of studies. Now researchers from the UK have found that a patient’s BMI and overweight may negatively affect his or her response to non-surgical periodontal therapy.

The study was conducted by researchers at University College London’s Eastman Dental Institute in collaboration with the European Research Group on Periodontology in Genoa in Italy. It included 260 adults who underwent an intensive course of non-surgical periodontal therapy. At baseline and two months, the participants’ periodontal status was assessed based upon probing pocket depth (PPD).

According to the researchers, BMI (continuous variable) and obesity were associated with worse mean PPD, independent of age, smoking status or dental plaque levels. The magnitude of this association was similar to that of smoking, which was also linked to a worse clinical periodontal outcome, they said.

Thus, the scientists concluded that BMI and obesity appear to be independent predictors of poor response to non-surgical periodontal therapy in patients with severe periodontitis.

The study, titled “Body mass index as a predictive factor of periodontal therapy outcomes”, was published online on 28 October in the Journal of Dental Research ahead of print.

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