title: Nonsurgical Periodontal Therapy decreases the Severity of Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Case-control Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and periodontitis are common chronic inflammatory conditions. Several studies suggested a relationship between RA and periodontitis. Recent studies have shown a beneficial effect of periodontal treatment on the severity of active RA. So the aim of this study was to examine the effect of nonsurgical periodontal therapy on the clinical parameters of RA.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 60 subjects with moderate-to-severe chronic generalized periodontitis and active RA in the age range 18 to 65 were selected for the study. They were divided into two groups. Group A (control group) consisted of 30 subjects with chronic generalized periodontitis and RA, and group B of 30 subjects with chronic generalized peri-odontitis and RA and they received nonsurgical periodontal therapy (scaling, root planning, and oral hygiene instructions). Evaluation of clinical observations of Simplified Oral Hygiene Index (OHI-S), gingival index (GI), bleeding on probing (BOP), probing pocket depth (PPD), clinical attachment level (CAL), number of swollen joints (SJ), number of tender joints (TJ), values of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), visual analogue scale (VAS) for patient's global assessment, 3 months disease activity score (DAS) index, and C-reactive protein (CRP) was done at baseline and 3 months. Statistical evaluation of clinical observations was carried out.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Group B subjects who received nonsurgical periodon-tal therapy showed statistically significant improvement in all periodontal and RA parameters at 3 months, compared with group A who did not receive periodontal therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It can be concluded from the result that nonsurgical periodontal therapy may contribute to reduction in severity and symptoms of RA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Rheumatoid arthritis patients should be evaluated for periodontitis and treated for the same in order to reduce its severity level.
authors.affiliation: Senior Lecturer, Department of Periodontics and Oral Implantology, RKDF College of Dental Sciences and Research Centre, Bhopal Madhya Pradesh, India, Phone: +917489898388, e-mail: neh.k14@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Neha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Khare
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Rishiraj College of Dental Sciences and Research Centre, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Bhavuk
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vanza
authors.affiliation: Department of General Dentistry, Chirayu Medical College & Hospital, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Deepak
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sagar
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics and Oral Implantology, ITS Dental College, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Kumar
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Saurav
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics and Oral Implantology, ITS Dental College, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Rohit
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chauhan
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics and Oral Implantology, Maitri College of Dentistry and Research Centre, Durg, Chhattisgarh India.
authors.forename: Supriya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mishra
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D055113:Chronic Periodontitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009911:Oral Hygiene Index
keywords: Inflammation; Periodontitis; Rheumatoid arthritis.