Periodontal conditions in rheumatoid arthritis: clinical and radiographic investigations

ABSTRACT

Periodontal conditions in 100 dentate adults with rheumatoid arthritis [RA] were compared with those of age and gender matched individuals without rheumatoid arthritis. The clinical parameters for periodontitis included probing pocket depths, attachment loss, gingival inflammation scores, plaque scores, and radiographic bone loss scores. The rheumatoid arthritis group had more missing teeth than the control group and a higher percentage of them had deeper pocketing and loss of periodontal attachment. There were no significant differences between the two groups for gingival inflammation and bleeding. There was a tendency to adverse periodontal conditions amongst the rheumatoid arthritis patients with severe periodontal bone loss occurring more frequently than in the controls. The rheumatoid arthritis patients had more dental plaque deposits than the control group, a finding which could indicate a difference in periodontal care. It is suggested that this study provides evidence of a significant association between periodontitis and rheumatoid arthritis