Periodontitis and gingivitis in inflammatory bowel disease: a case-control study

Area of Science:

• Oral medicine
• Gastroenterology
• Periodontology

Background:

• Oral manifestations are common in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), particularly Crohn's disease (CD).
• Periodontitis may influence systemic inflammatory and autoimmune conditions.
• The study investigates oral health markers in IBD patients compared to controls.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the relationship between periodontitis and gingivitis markers and specific disease characteristics in IBD patients.
• To compare oral health markers in IBD patients with those in healthy controls.

Main Methods:

• A prospective 8-month study involving 113 IBD patients (69 CD, 44 ulcerative colitis) and 113 healthy controls.
• Systematic oral examinations assessed periodontitis markers (bleeding on probing, loss of attachment, pocket depth) and gingivitis (papilla bleeding index).
• Personal history and documentation of oral lesions were also performed.

Main Results:

• IBD patients exhibited significantly higher gingivitis and periodontitis markers than controls.
• Perianal disease in CD was identified as a risk factor for periodontitis; nonsmoking was protective.
• No consistent association between IBD clinical activity and periodontitis was found, except for loss of attachment in active CD (Harvey-Bradshaw index > 10).

Conclusions:

• IBD, especially with perianal involvement in CD, is linked to periodontitis.
• Integrated treatment strategies addressing both oral and systemic inflammation are recommended for IBD management.