Assessment of plasma lipid and blood glucose levels in patients with healthy periodontium, chronic generalized gingivitis and chronic generalised periodontitis before and after phase i therapy

Introduction: Periodontal disease, a destructive inflammatory disease of supporting tissues of teeth, is caused by plaque bacteria. Periodontal infections manifest not only in periodontium but also cause systemic implications in otherwise healthy individuals as evidenced by raised levels of various serum inflammatory markers. Aim: The aim of the present study is to compare the changes in lipid profile and fasting blood glucose levels of a group of patients with chronic generalized gingivitis, chronic generalized periodontitis following scaling and root planning to a control group with healthy periodontium not receiving periodontal therapy. Materials and Methods: 45 subjects were included in the study. Subjects were assigned into three groups :- 15 subjects with healthy periodontium (Group A) in which only oral hygiene instructions were given, 15 Subjects in chronic generalized gingivitis(Group B) and 15 Subjects in chronic generalized periodontitis (Group C) in which scaling and root planing was performed. Data was analysed by Paired t-test. A P-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: In Group C a statistically significant decrease in levels of serum triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and fasting blood glucose levels was seen after treatment. A statistically significant increase in HDL-cholesterol level was seen. No statistically significant changes were seen in Group A and Group B. Conclusions: Chronic generalized periodontitis patients showed improvement in the metabolic parameters after the treatment. Thus chronic periodontitis in otherwise healthy individuals may be considered to increase systemic inflammatory burden thus adversely effecting serum lipid and glucose levels.