Alveolar bone loss, platelet and glycosylated haemoglobin levels in 239 patients. A clinical study

The relation between periodontal disease and systemic pathologies is still not widespread among general practitioners. The aim of our study is to evaluate whether or not periodontal radiological diagnosis can aid the detection of blood alterations associated with acquired systemic diseases.

This is a cross sectional study. All of the participants underwent a panoramic radiograph and a complete blood test. Morphological bone loss was considered as positive in those patients who showed radiographically more than 1 tooth with bone loss greater than or equal to the middle third of the root. The statistical analysis was performed by comparing the variables using the ANOVA or U-Mann-Whitney tests for independent samples with normal conditions. The correlation coefficient was analysed using the Pearson test.

239 patients were included in our study (96 men and 143 women) with an average age of 64.40 years. 59.04% of the patients were determined as morphological bone loss positive and had on average 4 teeth less than negative patients (p <0.0001). Also the average platelet levels in positive patients were lower (p = 0.024) and mean levels of HBA1c (p = 0.009) were higher.

Morphological bone loss parameter can be useful both for dentists and general practitioners to refer, subsequently, to periodontal specialist.