Title: Periodontal disease and obesity in adults. A review of the available evidence
Abstract:
The aim of this presentation is to review and analysethe available research evidence of the relationship between obesity and periodontitisand present its clinical importance. A large proportion of the world’s population has been affected by the rising prevalence of obesity. Obesity have been associated with the development of a number of systematic diseases, including type II Diabetes, Cardiovascular disease and even cancer.The association between obesity and periodontal disease has been also investigated. Current research evidenceidentifies a correlation between obesity and periodontitis. Obesityhas a causal relationship with Type II Diabetes and is one of the components that constitute the Metabolic syndrome; both of the latter conditions have been related with periodontal disease. It is still unclear how the interplay between obesity and other systematic diseases affect the periodontal health. In addition to this, the complexity of the pathogenesis of the periodontal condition makes the causal association between obesity and periodontitis difficult to establish. On the other hand, the research evidence regarding the periodontal healing after treatment in obese and non-obese populations suggest that there is little or no difference in their treatment outcomes when both groups receiving periodontal treatment. The current research evidence suggests that obesity presents an association with an increased prevalence of periodontitis. The exact mechanism of the association is not yet fully understood, however there are suggestions that obesity affects the inflammatory response of the periodontal tissues. The evidence remains equivocal, considering that similar studies regarding the periodontal treatment results present no significant difference between obese and non-obese populations. Other reasons that can contribute to the development of periodontal disease can be attributed to social, economic and behavioral factors that could also play role in the development of obesity. Clinically, appropriate weight control could benefit the oral health of the patient
