Relationship between Acute Phase of Chronic Periodontitis and Meteorological Factors in the Maintenance Phase of Periodontal Treatment: A Pilot Study

Abstract

The acute phase of chronic periodontitis may occur even in patients during supportive periodontal therapy. However, the details are not fully understood. Since the natural environment, including meteorology affects human health, we hypothesized that weather conditions may affect occurrence of acute phase of chronic periodontitis. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between weather conditions and acute phase of chronic periodontitis in patients under supportive periodontal therapy. Patients who were diagnosed with acute phase of chronic periodontitis under supportive periodontal therapy during 2011–2013 were selected for this study. We performed oral examinations and collected questionnaires and meteorological data. Of 369 patients who experienced acute phase of chronic periodontitis, 153 had acute phase of chronic periodontitis without direct-triggered episodes. When using the autoregressive integrated moving average model of time-series analysis, the independent covariant of maximum hourly range of barometric pressure, maximum hourly range of temperature, and maximum daily wind speed were significantly associated with occurrence of acute phase of chronic periodontitis (p < 0.05), and 3.1% of the variations in these occurrence over the study period were explained by these factors. Meteorological variables may predict occurrence of acute phase of chronic periodontitis.

Incidence of the Acute Symptom of Chronic Periodontal Disease in Patients Undergoing Supportive Periodontal Therapy: A 5-Year Study Evaluating Climate Variables

“…In order to confirm a history of the acute symptom of chronic periodontal disease, we collected the following information: (1) Date, (2) location, (3) possible trigger that the patients were aware of, and (4) the other perceptible trigger, such as physical and/or mental stress, occlusal trauma, and insufficient of oral hygiene. We defined the acute symptom of chronic periodontal disease as cases with unidentified cause in which no possible triggers could be clearly identified [30].…”

“…We obtained the following climate data from the local climate office in Okayama city: Daily humidity range; minimum daily humidity (%); maximum daily humidity (%); mean daily humidity (%); maximum hourly decrease in temperature (°C); maximum hourly increase in temperature (°C); daily temperature range (°C); minimum daily temperature (°C); maximum daily temperature (°C); mean daily temperature (°C); total daily rainfall (mm); total hours of sunlight (h); maximum hourly decrease in barometric pressure (hPa); maximum hourly increase in barometric pressure (hPa); minimum daily barometric pressure (hPa); maximum daily barometric pressure (hPa); mean daily barometric pressure (hPa); maximum daily humidity (%); minimum daily wind speed (m/s); maximum daily wind speed (m/s); and mean daily wind speed (m/s) [30,35,36].…”

“…Our previous short-term pilot study found that climate variables significantly affected the incidence of the acute symptom of chronic periodontal disease [30]. Therefore, we hypothesized that climate factors might also have some effect on the incidence of the acute symptom of chronic periodontal disease over the long term [30]. To provide a stable basis for a proper time-series study over the long term, a study period of 5 years or more with at least 50 observations is needed [31].…”