Periodontitis (PD) is a persistent inflammatory condition known for the demolition of the tooth-supporting tissues like cementum, alveolar bone and periodontal-ligament. The following study concluded that it has significant associations rheumatoid arthritis etc. The RA patients with PD receiving non-surgical periodontal treatment resulted in prominent improvements in the clinical outcomes for RA.

The relationship of periodontitis (PD) with the prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is still under debate. Hence, this study aimed to estimate their association and examine the impacts of non-surgical periodontal therapy on RA.

Sixty-four patients were selected and classified into four groups; 10 healthy controls (PD−RA−), 18 PD patients (PD+RA−), 18 RA with PD patients (PD+RA+), and 18 RA patients (PD−RA+). Rheumatologic and periodontal parameters were measured at baseline and one month after the non-surgical periodontal treatment.

The RA patients showed comparable periodontal status. However, Higher levels of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), Disease Activity Score 28 (DAS28), C-reactive protein (CRP), and anti-cyclic citrulline peptide antibody (ACPA) was found in PD+RA+ group as compared to PD−RA+ group. Also, the PD+RA+ group showed improved rheumatologic parameters following the non-surgical periodontal treatment.

The PD might lead to the RA progression, while RA might have limited influence on stimulating the PD development. Furthermore, RA patients with PD taking non-surgical periodontal treatment appeared to have an exceptional improvement in the clinical result for RA.