Corticosteroid therapy and periodontal disease

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Periodontology
• Endocrinology

Background:

• Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurological condition.
• Corticosteroid therapy is commonly used for managing MS symptoms.
• The impact of long-term corticosteroid use on periodontal health in MS patients is not well-established.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the frequency and severity of periodontal disease in multiple sclerosis patients undergoing corticosteroid therapy.
• To compare periodontal health between corticosteroid-treated MS patients, untreated MS patients, and healthy controls.

Main Methods:

• Dental examinations were conducted on three groups: MS patients on corticosteroids, MS patients without significant hormone therapy, and age/sex-matched healthy controls.
• Parameters assessed included oral hygiene, gingival conditions, probing depth, gingival recession, and alveolar bone height.
• Patients receiving corticosteroids had taken an average of 3.5 g of prednisone over 1-4 years.

Main Results:

• No significant difference in the frequency or severity of gingivitis was observed between corticosteroid-treated MS patients and untreated MS patients.
• Periodontal parameters such as probing depth, gingival recession, and alveolar bone height showed no significant variations between the two MS patient groups.
• The study found no discernible difference in the frequency and severity of periodontal disease between neurologically diseased patients receiving long-term corticosteroid therapy and those not receiving it.

Conclusions:

• Long-term corticosteroid therapy (1-4 years) does not appear to significantly influence the clinical parameters of periodontal disease in patients with neurological conditions like multiple sclerosis.
• The findings suggest that the benefits of corticosteroid therapy for neurological disease management may not be offset by an increased risk of periodontal complications.