Periodontal therapy lowers levels of heart disease inflammation markers
This entry was posted on 2/25/2007 4:03 PM and is filed under Research.
Treating periodontal disease with scaling and root planing combined with a topical antibiotic gel can significantly lower the levels of two inflammatory proteins associated with a heightened risk of heart disease, scientists from the State University of New York at Buffalo report.
Blood drawn from 102 subjects with periodontal disease showed elevated levels of both C-reactive protein and fibrinogen, proteins associated with increased risk for heart disease and blood clotting. All of the subjects were free of other conditions that could cause elevated levels of the proteins.
Scientists from the UB School of Dentistry's Department of Oral Biology divided the subjects into two groups to determine if periodontal therapy would be effective in lowering the levels of the heart disease markers. One group received scaling and root planing treatment while the second group received treatment with the topical antibiotic Atridox followed by scaling and root planing.
