People With Rheumatoid Arthritis Have More Periodontal Disease

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People With Rheumatoid Arthritis Have More Periodontal Disease

CHICAGO – June 21, 2001 – Swollen joints and missing teeth often go hand in

hand, according to a new study in the

Journal of Periodontology.

In the Australian study of 130 people, the 65 people who had rheumatoid

arthritis were more than twice as likely to have

periodontal disease with moderate to severe jawbone loss as the control

subjects. In addition, they averaged 11.6 missing

teeth, compared to 6.7 in the control group.

" Periodontal disease and rheumatoid arthritis have very similar pathologies, "

said Genco, D.D.S., Ph.D., editor of

the Journal of Periodontology. " Damage caused by the immune system and chronic

inflammation are central to both

diseases. A better understanding of the biological processes common to these

diseases may help us find new ways to

treat them with medications that modify the body's response to inflammation. "

At this point, researchers are not saying the relationship between the two

diseases is causal. However, some scientists

think a bacterial infection may trigger the disease process in some of the

estimated 2.1 million people with rheumatoid

arthritis.

Some dental professionals had speculated that people with arthritis have more

periodontal disease because limited

dexterity decreases oral hygiene. However, researchers in this study found no

difference in plaque deposits between the

group with rheumatoid arthritis and the control group, indicating that the

progression of periodontal disease in the arthritis

group was due to factors other than a difference in oral hygiene.

" People with rheumatoid arthritis should take note of this connection, " said

McGuire, D.D.S., president of the

American Academy of Periodontology (AAP). " They should be on a close lookout for

signs of periodontal disease, such

as red, swollen gums that bleed easily. The earlier you detect periodontal

disease and treat it, the better off you are. "

A referral to a periodontist and free brochures including one titled Spread the

Word: Periodontal Care Is For Everyone are

available by calling 800-FLOSS-EM or visiting the AAP's Web site at

www.perio.org.

The American Academy of Periodontology is a 7,500-member association of dental

professionals specializing in the

prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases affecting the gums and

supporting structures of the teeth and in the

placement and maintenance of dental implants. Periodontics is one of nine dental

specialties recognized by the American

Dental Association.

For additional information, contact Widtfeldt at 312/573-3243 or

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