Abstract:
Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare changes in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) activity, which was evaluated to determinate the concentration of inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF-a, as well as salivary protein profile in patients before and after of non-surgical periodontal treatment. Materials and methods: In this study, twenty eight patients participated, 13 subjects with RA and chronic periodontitis: 6 without periodontal treatment and 7 with non-surgical periodontal treatment; 15 systemically healthy individuals, 7 of them with chronic periodontitis and 8 periodontally healthy (control group). Periodontal and rheumatologic parameters, salivary, gingival crevicular fluid and subgingival dental plaque were examined and collected at baseline and 8 weeks later.
Results: Subjects with AR have increased dental decay and treatment needs index, hence, poor functional dental index. The RA treatment group exhibited a decrease in all periodontal parameters after scaling and root planing.
Conclusions: These results suggest that RA patients need a dental health care appropriate to improve their quality of life. Non-surgical periodontal treatment could enhance the physical status of disease.