Effect of dental caries on periodontal inflammatory status: A split-mouth study

This controlled split-mouth study aimed to estimate the effect of caries and related treatment on concentrations of interleukin (IL)-2, interferon (IFN)-γ, IL-12, IL-17A, IL-13, IL-10, IL-6, IL-5, IL-4, IL-22, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and IL1-β in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) of caries affected teeth before (B), 7 (7D) and 30 (30D) days post-treatment and to compare them with concentrations from healthy teeth.

Study population included 81 systemically and periodontally healthy non-smokers exhibiting at least one shallow occlusal/ inter-proximal caries and one healthy tooth from the same morphologic group at the contralateral position. Following clinical exam, the GCF samples were collected baseline as well as 7D and 30D, while the biomarker measurement was performed using multiplex flowcytometry.

Caries affected teeth exhibited significantly higher levels of IFN-γ, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4 and IL-6 when compared to healthy teeth. Post-treatment cytokines levels showed general trend of increase when compared to baseline, that was significant for IL-22 and IL-17 at 7D, while IFN-γ was significantly increased at 7D compared to the healthy teeth. At 30D, IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-17 and IL-4 levels were significantly increased when compared to healthy teeth, while IL-2 levels were significantly higher than baseline levels.

Considering significantly increased periodontal levels of inflammatory markers in caries affected teeth and in response to performed treatment, it seems that dental caries and related restorative treatment might contribute to periodontal inflammation via additive effects already in early-stage caries.