Beyond the limitations of conventional periodontal care: multidisciplinary approach and novel methods
Domokos Zsuzsanna
Dental Research Division
Dr. Varga Gábor
BC22 Irodaház Marcus Aurelius terem
2025-04-23 09:30:00
Dental Research
Dr. Varga Gábor
Dr. Németh Orsolya
Dr. Victor-Vlad Costan
Dr. Oleh Andrukhov
Dr. Baráth Zoltán
Dr. Stjepan Spalj
Dr. Reinhilde Jacobs
Periodontitis is a leading cause of tooth loss and edentulism among adults. It is a significant health concern affecting billions of individuals worldwide with substantial financial burdens. Beyond being a serious oral condition, it also impairs systemic health. It was linked with several systemic diseases, including cardiovascular disorders, adverse pregnancy outcomes, and diabetes mellitus. Also, recently, our research explored its potential association with IBDs. Given its irreversible damage to the tooth-supporting structures and systemic implications, the main focus of our scientific work was to investigate novel methods in periodontitis diagnostics, which could improve clinical outcomes and highlight the importance of incorporating a multidisciplinary perspective into the management and treatment of periodontitis.
Our first systematic review and meta-analysis examined the association between periodontitis and IBDs. Despite the rising prevalence of IBDs and their known extraintestinal manifestations, including oral symptoms, this relationship has received limited attention. Our analysis revealed that IBDs, including Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), when assessed separately, are associated with periodontitis. Additionally, we explored the reverse relationship, and tendencies suggest that periodontitis may be associated with an increased risk of developing subsequent UC but not CD. These findings underline the need for interdisciplinary collaborations between dentists and gastroenterologists to enhance treatment strategies and the quality of life of affected patients.
The second study aimed to evaluate the reliability of a novel biomarker, salivary matrix metalloproteinase-8, in periodontitis diagnostics. While gingivitis remains a reversible condition affecting the periodontium, it can progress into periodontitis in susceptible individuals, making early-stage diagnostics essential. Our results showed that salivary MMP-8 levels significantly differ among patients with periodontitis, gingivitis, and a healthy periodontium, with the highest levels observed in periodontitis cases and the lowest in controls. Thus, salivary MMP-8 measurement could be a reliable tool to distinguish gingivitis and periodontitis from a healthy periodontium and differentiate between these conditions. However, further diagnostic meta-analyses are needed to establish precise cut-off values before clinical implementation.
