Dental Status of Firefighters of Rio de Janeiro State and Comparison with Brazilian Oral Health Surveys

Objective: This cross-sectional study aimed to assess clinical dental status in military firefighters of Rio de Janeiro State and compare data with Brazilian National and Regional oral health surveys. Material and Methods: A sample of 926 military firefighters was examined using the visible biofilm index, the DMFT index and the Community Periodontal Index (CPI). Clinical exams were performed by 15 trained dentists. The Kruskal-Wallis test and Mann-Whitney test with Bonferroni correction were used. Results: Higher biofilm accumulation was associated with increased age. The mean DMFT index for the whole sample of this study was 12.74 (±7.03), and the ‘filled’ component was the most prevalent (69.9%), whereas the ‘decayed’ and ‘missing’ components were, respectively, 8.4% and 21.7%. There was a higher prevalence of periodontal diseases with increasing age, ranging from 57.1% in firefighters of 34 years or less to 70.5% in the ones between 35 and 44 years old and 75.4% in participants at age 45 years or older. Clinical dental status of the military firefighters who belonged to the age group 35-44 was better than the one observed for the Brazilian population at the same age range. However, pathological conditions that can be solved with health promotion strategies associated with dental procedures of low complexity still persist. Conclusion: These results suggest that the availability of dental health care services itself does not represent the most effective approach to the oral health problems found in the studied population

Association between periodontitis and risk markers for cardiovascular disease

Pesquisas recentes têm demonstrado que a periodontite pode modificar a concentração sanguínea de uma série de tipos celulares e substâncias bioquímicas, que são considerados fatores de risco para doenças cardiovasculares. Este trabalho tem como objetivo avaliar a associação entre a periodontite crônica e marcadores de risco para doença cardiovascular. No Estudo I foram examinados 100 pacientes aparentemente saudáveis sistemicamente, sendo 66 portadores de periodontite crônica e 34 pacientes controle, sem doença periodontal. Exames periodontais e exames sanguíneos foram realizados, e obtidas as espessuras das camadas íntima-média (IMT) da artéria carótida. No Estudo II, 66 pacientes participantes do Estudo I, diagnosticados com periodontite crônica, foram aleatoriamente submetidos a tratamento periodontal imediato (Grupo Teste, n=33) ou tratamento periodontal retardado (Grupo Controle, n=33). Os dados colhidos no Estudo I foram registrados como pré-tratamento (T0). Novos exames clínicos periodontais e laboratoriais foram realizados no período de 2 meses (T2) e 6 meses (T6) após os exames iniciais (Grupo Controle) ou conclusão do tratamento periodontal (Grupo Teste). Os dados colhidos foram analisados através de testes estatísticos. Os resultados mostraram que pacientes com periodontite crônica quando comparados ao grupo controle, apresentaram valores médios significativamente mais elevados na contagem total de hemácias (p<0,001), hemoglobina (p<0,001), hematócrito (p<0,001), contagem de plaquetas (p=0,019), velocidade de hemossedimentação (p<0,001), proteína C-reativa (p<0,001). Os níveis de HDL-colesterol foram significativamente mais baixos nos pacientes com periodontite crônica quando comparados ao grupo controle (p<0,001). As camadas íntima-média da parede da artéria carótida esquerda foram significativamente mais espessas nos pacientes com periodontite crônica quando comparados ao grupo controle (p=0,049). Os indíviduos com periodontite crônica também apresentaram 3,26 vezes mais chances de possuir Síndrome Metabólica do que aqueles indivíduos que não possuem doença peridontal (IC 95%: 1,8-5,9). No Estudo II, quando comparados os valores médios dos dados hematológicos após tratamento, no grupo teste, foi possível observar melhora estatisticamente significativa, entre T0/T2, dos valores de VHS e triglicerídeos (p=0,002; p=0,004; respectivamente). Redução nos valores médios da contagem total de leucócitos, VHS, CRP, transaminase glutâmico pirúvica, colesterol total e triglicerídeos, entre T0/T6, foi verificada no grupo teste pós-tratamento (p=0,028; p<0,001; p<0,001; p=0,010; p<0,001; p=0,015, respectivamente). Os resultados indicaram que a periodontite crônica severa está associada com níveis elevados de marcadores da inflamação e trombogênese, além de alterações no perfil lipídico em indivíduos sistemicamente saudáveis, podendo atuar como possível fator de risco para as doenças cardiovasculares. O tratamento periodontal não-cirúrgico mostrou-se eficaz na redução dos níveis dos marcadores sistêmicos da inflamação e na melhora do perfil lipídico em indivíduos com doença periodontal severa, consequentemente, reduzindo o risco de doenças cardiovasculares.Recent studies have shown that periodontitis seems to modify the blood concentration of a range of cell types and biochemical substances, which are considered risk factors for cardiovascular disease. This study aims to evaluate the association between periodontitis and risk markers for cardiovascular disease. In the Study I, 100 patients apparently healthy were examined, being 66 patients diagnosed with severe chronic periodontitis and 34 control patients without periodontal disease. Periodontal examinations and blood samples were performed. The carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) were obtained. In the Study II, 66 patients participating in the Study I, diagnosed with chronic periodontitis, were randomly submitted to immediate periodontal treatment (test group, n=33) or delayed periodontal treatment (control group, n=33). The data collected in Study I were recorded as pre-treatment (T0). Further periodontal and laboratory examinations were performed in the period of 2 months (T2) and 6 months (T6) after the initial examination (control group) or completion of periodontal treatment (Test Group). The data collected were analyzed using statistical tests. The results demonstrated that patients with chronic periodontitis when compared with the control group showed significantly higher values in the total count of red blood cells (p<0.001), hemoglobin (p<0.001), hematocrit (p<0.001), platelet count (p=0.019), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR, p<0.001), C-reactive protein (CRP, p<0.001). The levels of HDL-cholesterol were significantly lower in patients with chronic periodontitis when compared with the control group (p<0.001). The layers of the intima-media wall of the left carotid artery was significantly thicker in patients with chronic periodontitis when compared with the control group (p=0.049). Individuals with chronic periodontitis also had 3.26 times more likely to have metabolic syndrome than individuals who do not have peridontal disease (CI 95%: 1.8-5.9). In Study II, compared the mean values of hematological data after treatment in the test group, it was possible to observe statistically significant improvement from T0/T2, in the values of ESR and triglycerides (p=0.002, p=0.004, respectively). Reduction in the average values of total leukocyte count, ESR, CRP, glutamic pyruvic transaminase, total cholesterol and triglycerides, between T0/T6 was observed in the test group after treatment (p=0.028, p<0.001 p<0.001, p=0.010 p<0.001, p=0.015, respectively). The results indicated that, in the population studied and with the methodology used, the severe chronic periodontitis is associated with high levels of markers of inflammation and trombogenesis, and changes in lipid profile in systemically healthy individuals, can act as a possible risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. The non-surgical periodontal treatment was effective in reducing the levels of markers of systemic inflammation and improves the lipid profile in subjects with severe periodontal disease, thus reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease