Proton Pump Inhibitors May Serve as Adjunctive Therapy for Periodontitis
A study that sought to establish whether a relationship exists between the use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and periodontal disease severity has demonstrated that patients with periodontitis who use PPIs have fewer teeth with elevated probing depths.
A study that sought to establish whether a relationship exists between the use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and periodontal disease severity has demonstrated that patients with periodontitis who use PPIs have fewer teeth with elevated probing depths. Commonly prescribed for gastrointestinal disorders, PPIs modulate osteoclast function, reduce gastric acid secretion, and are associated with a more diverse gastrointestinal microbiota. Characterized by dysbiosis that contributes to host-mediated inflammation—uncontrolled periodontitis leads to loss of periodontal attachment and, eventually, edentulism.
In their investigation, researchers from the State University of New York at Buffalo performed a retrospective analysis using 1,093 patient records from the faculty periodontal practice. The team found that 14% of teeth were associated with ≥ 6 mm probing depths among PPI users vs 24% for patients not using PPIs. Similarly, for ≥ 5 mm probing depths, proportions were lower among PPI users than nonusers (27% vs 40%, respectively). Results from the study, “Association Between Proton Pump Inhibitors and Periodontal Disease Severity,” published in Clinical and Experimental Dental Research, suggest that PPIs are associated with a reduced proportion of elevated probing depths.
From Dimensions of Dental Hygiene. February 2022;20(2):11.
