Interleukin 1 genetic tests provide no support for reduction of preventive dental care.
BACKGROUND
It has been proposed that the PST and PerioPredict genetic tests that are based on polymorphisms in interleukin 1 (IL-1) genes identify a subset of patients who experience fewer tooth extractions if provided with 2 annual preventive visits. Economic analyses indicate rationing preventive care to only "high-risk" genotypes, smokers, patients with diabetes, or combinations of these risk factors would reduce the cost of dental care by $4.8 billion annually in the United States.


METHODS
Data presented in the study that claimed clinical utility for the PST and PerioPredict tests were obtained for reanalysis using logistic regression to assess whether the PST genetic test, smoking, diabetes, or number of preventive visits were risk factors for tooth extraction during a span of 16 years. Consistency of risk classification by the PST (version 1) and PerioPredict (version 2) genetic tests was evaluated in different ethnic groups from the 1000 Genomes database.


RESULTS
Multivariate analyses revealed association of tooth extraction with diabetes (P < .0001), smoking (P < .0001), and number of preventive visits (P = .004), but no support for the PST genetic test (P = .96) nor indication that the benefit of 2 preventive visits was affected by this genetic test (P = .58). Classification of risk was highly inconsistent between the PST (version 1) and PerioPredict (version 2) genetic tests.


CONCLUSIONS
Two annual preventive visits were supported as beneficial for all patients, and there was no evidence that the IL-1 PST genetic test has any effect on tooth extraction risk or influences the benefits of 2 annual preventive visits.


CONCLUSIONS
Neither IL-1 PST nor PerioPredict genetic tests are useful for rationing preventive dental care. Further research is needed to identify genetic biomarkers with robust clinical validity and clinical utility to effectively personalize the practice of dentistry.
Scott R
SR
Diehl
Fengshen
F
Kuo
Thomas C
TC
Hart
D000328:Adult; D003729:Dental Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005819:Genetic Markers / Q000235:genetics; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics; D005820:Genetic Testing / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D019458:Insurance Coverage; D007347:Insurance, Dental; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics; D011315:Preventive Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D014076:Tooth Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics
D005819:Genetic Markers; D007375:Interleukin-1
Genetic screening; biomarker; clinical data reanalysis; genetic test; personalized medicine; preventive care; single nucleotide polymorphism; tooth extraction; tooth loss