Aim: In the past few years, there has been accumulating evidence that suggests an exquisite association between oral infections and systemic diseases. Both chronic periodontitis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are inflammatory conditions characterized by the loss of local connective tissue. The current study was conducted to find the association between COPD and periodontitis.
Materials and methods: The present cross-sectional study comprised of 60 individuals after obtaining their due consent. All the subjects enrolled were subjected to a spirometric test, from which COPD patients were graded into four categories A, B, C, and D according to their COPD status. A detailed periodontal examination was performed using parameters like probing pocket depth (PPD), clinical attachment level (CAL), plaque index (PI), and gingival index (GI). Orthopantomogram (OPG) of each individual was taken to assess the mean alveolar bone loss (MABL).
Results: The results showed that with the worsening of spirometric values (i.e., from A to D), there was a significant deterioration in the periodontal health in terms mean PPD, CAL, PI, GI, and MABL with a p value < 0.05.
Conclusion: The present study showed a positive association between COPD and periodontal health status. Periodontal health variables were considerably associated with the severity of COPD.
Clinical significance: It is essential to attach significance to the COPD patient's periodontal health. Active management of the periodontal disease may have more favorable effects on the COPD patients. Furthermore, exploring the effect and mechanism of the treatment of periodontal disease on the COPD is worthy of efforts.