Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) affects the joints, causing pain, swelling, and stiffness. Anyone can get it, though it affects women more than men, and it’s most common among older people. The immune system attacks the body’s tissues, but its exact causes aren’t known. Yet research has found a connection between RA and periodontal disease.
One recent study included 44 patients diagnosed with RA according to American Rheumatism Association criteria attending the Morales Meseguer Hospital Rheumatology Service in Murcia, Spain, and 41 control subjects. Patients younger than 18 or suffering systemic diseases that could affect the immune system were excluded.
Each patient received a full periodontal examination. Bleeding on probing was significantly greater in the RA group (0.9 +/- 0.36) than the control (P < 0.001). The plaque index also was significantly higher in the RA group (0.76 +/- 0.34) than the control group (0.55 +/- 0.2, P < 0.001).
Overall, the researchers concluded that the RA patients showed a 0.13 increased risk of periodontal disease (95% confidence interval, 0.05 to 0.37). They also determined that these patients must be instructed to intensify their oral hygiene regimes.
The research, “Clinical Evaluation of Periodontal Disease in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Cross-Sectional Study,” was published in the October issue of Quintessence International. It was written by Alvaro Pons-Fuster, DDS, PhD; Consuelo Rodríguez Agudo, DDS, PhD; Pepe Galvez Muñoz, MD, PhD; Encarna Saiz Cuenca, MD; and Francisca M. Pina Perez, MD; Pia Lopez-Jornet, MD, DDS, PhD.
Related Articles
Protein Blocks Bone Loss in Gum Disease
Oral Microbes Linked to Alzheimer’s Disease
Study Links Kidney and Periodontal Disease
