ISPUB.COM The Internet Journal of Dental Science Volume 6 Number 1 1 of 4 Effect of Scaling and Root Planning in Periodontitis on Peripheral Blood B Rai, S Kharb Citation B Rai, S Kharb. Effect of Scaling and Root Planning in Periodontitis on Peripheral Blood. The Internet Journal of Dental Science. 2007 Volume 6 Number 1. Abstract Numerous studies linking periodontitis and cardiovascular disease have been observed. We used a treatment intervention model to study the relationship between periodontitis and peripheral blood. We studied 37 subjects (M:F, 16:21, in age group 23-40 years) with severely periodontitis requiring scaling and root planning. Blood samples were obtained: (1) at initial presentation, (2) after 3 weeks of scaling and root planning (3) after 10 weeks of scaling and root planning. After the treatment, there is significant decrease in white blood cells, neurophil, platelets, while increase hemoglobin and RBC levels. This research paper shows that elimination of periodontitis by scaling and root planning reduces systemic inflammatory markers of cardiovascular risk. It also supports that links between periodontitis and cardiovascular disease exist. INTRODUCTION Periodontal disease, a common chronic oral inflammatory disease, is characterized by destruction of soft tissue and bone surrounding the teeth. Epidemiological associations between periodontitis and cardiovascular disease have been reported. 1 , 2 Periodontitis and atherosclerosis have complex etiologies, genetic and gender predispositions and may share pathogenic mechanisms as well as common risk factors. Several short term intervention studies have been reported that treatment of periodontitis reduces the serum concentrations of inflammatory markers, such as c-reactive protein, TNF-a, IL-6 which are though to be initiating factor cardiovascular disease. Hence, the present study was planned, effect of scaling and root planning in periodontitis on peripheral blood. MATERIAL AND METHODS Thirty seven (M:F, 16:21, in age group 23-40 years) having at least a minimum of seven sites exhibiting, 6 mm loss of clinical attachment who had been referred to Deptt. of periodontology. The patient had periodontitis characterized by a horizontal loss of supporting tissue by more than 1/3 rd of root length with bleeding on probing, furcation involvements of the multi-rooted teeth. In none of the participants was cardiovascular disease or any other ongoing general disease or infections diagnosed. Patients were excluded from the study if they had alcoholic or chronic smoker. In on all these cases, the peripheral blood were drawn before starting any treatment; three weeks later scaling and root planning; and 10 weeks after scaling and root planning for investigation i.e. total white blood cells count, red blood cell counts, therombocytes count and hemoglobin (Hb) level and fibrinogen. Plasma fibrinogen was determined according to Clauss method. 3 All the statistical analysis were performed using SPSS Software package (version 11.0) and student t-test was applied. RESULTS