The Effect of Adiposity on the Outcome of Non-Surgical Periodontal Therapy

Abstract

Background: Non-surgical periodontal therapy constitutes the first step in controlling periodontal infections, and its outcome is affected by the presence of other systemic diseases and conditions. Obesity is a modifiable risk factor for periodontitis and its effect on the outcome of non-surgical periodontal therapy has not been clearly determined. Aim: To determine the impact of central adiposity on the outcome of non-surgical periodontal treatment in patients with periodontitis. Methodology: This prospective interventional study included 39 obese patients with periodontitis (Group A) and 39 normal?weight patients with periodontitis (Group B). The waist circumference (WC), waist/hip ratio (WHR), waist/height ratio (WHtR), Simplified oral hygiene index (OHIS), bleeding on probing (BOP), probing pocket depth (PPD), number of sites with PPD ≥ 4 mm, and clinical attachment loss (CAL) were measured at baseline and 3 months after non-surgical periodontal treatment. Chi-square test was used to compare categorical variables between the groups. Independent samples t-tests and paired t-test were used to analyse the numerical intergroup and intragroup data, respectively. Pearson’s correlation coefficients and multiple regression analyses were used to assess the strength and impact of central adiposity on periodontal treatment outcomes. Data were analysed using the IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 20.0 and statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. Results: At baseline, the mean PPD and CAL were comparable in both Groups A and B; while the mean percentage of sites with gingival BOP and percentage of sites with periodontitis were significantly higher in Group A. All periodontal parameters significantly improved after treatment in Groups A and B. However, participants in Group B had a better improvement in sites with gingival BOP and percentage of sites with periodontitis after treatment compared to Group A. Multiple regression analysis showed that central adiposity had a significant (P < 0.05) negative impact on the treatment outcome of gingival BOP, PPD and percentage of sites with periodontitis (PPD ≥ 4 mm) after adjusting for age, sex and socio-economic status. Conclusions: The findings indicated that central adiposity has a negative impact on gingival bleeding on probing, probing pocket depth and percentage of sites with periodontitis.