Atherosclerosis is the most common cause of heart attacks, strokes and peripheral vascular disease. (Photograph: CLIPAREA l Custom media/Shutterstock)

Jul 4, 2014 | News Australia & New Zealand

SYDNEY, Australia: The findings of a new study indicate that, in addition to treating periodontal disease, periodontal therapy could have a considerable systemic impact. Researchers have found that a single session of non-surgical treatment for periodontal disease significantly reduced the thickness of artery walls, a risk factor for heart disease, in patients.

The study was conducted at various research institutions throughout Australia and focused on Aboriginal Australians, a high-risk group for both periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease. In order to assess the effect of periodontal treatment on cardiovascular health, 273 Aboriginal Australians aged 18 and over with periodontitis were recruited. Half of the participants received full-mouth periodontal scaling during a single visit while the controls received no treatment.

After a period of 12 months, the researchers measured changes in carotid intima-media thickness and observed a significant decline in thickening of artery walls in the treatment group but not in the control group. “The effect is comparable to a 30 per cent fall in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, commonly referred to as bad cholesterol, which is associated with a decreased risk of heart disease,” said study co-author Dr Michael Skilton from the University of Sydney. “It is also equivalent to the effects of reversing four years of aging, 8 kg/m2 lower body mass index, or 25 mm Hg lower systolic blood pressure.”

However, the researchers found no effect of periodontal therapy on arterial stiffness, another indicator of atherosclerotic vascular disease. There were no significant differences between the groups in pulse wave velocity at three months or 12 months, according to the study. 

The findings may have important implications for the treatment of high-risk populations, such as Indigenous Australians. According to the researchers, periodontal disease is twice as common in Aboriginal Australians as in the rest of the population. An estimated 90 per cent of Aboriginal adults suffer from periodontal disease.

The study, titled “Effect of periodontal therapy on arterial structure and function among Aboriginal Australians”, was published online on 23 June in the Hypertension journal ahead of print.