Scaling vs Comprehensive Periodontal Therapy in Reducing Serum Lipid Levels in Patients with Hyperlipidemia

Abstract

Chronic inflammatory conditions, such as periodontitis, have shown adverse lipid profiles. The periodontal bacterial burden can induce systemic levels of inflammatory mediators precipitating dyslipidemia. Several studies have provided convincing data linking periodontitis, metabolic syndrome and obesity. Based on these findings, this study gauged the impact of comprehensive periodontal care with surgical therapy on standard periodontal clinical indices, and parameters such as the Body-Mass Index (BMI), Waist-Hip circumference ratio (WHR), and serum lipid levels. Thirty patients with high lipid levels and chronic periodontitis were allocated randomly to group A, receiving complete periodontal therapy, and group B, with scaling only. Apart from BMI and WHR, plaque, and gingival indices, probing depth, total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) were recorded before and after three months of intervention. Data analysis utilized the paired t-test and Pearson’s correlation coefficient. Patients receiving complete periodontal treatment showed significantly reduced post-therapy lipid levels (TC, LDL), standard clinical indices (plaque and gingival indices) and probing depth, Body mass index, and waisthip ratio (p< 0.05) compared to their respective baseline levels. Plaque index, Gingival index and probing depth were observed to correlate with total cholesterol levels. Therefore, alleviating conditions with persistent inflammation is essential to manage borderline hyperlipidemia.