Effects of scaling and root planing on clinical response and serum levels of adipocytokines in patients with obesity and chronic periodontitis.

Background: Despite several investigations suggesting that obesity is a risk indicator for periodontitis, little is known about the effect of obesity on periodontal treatment response. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of scaling and root planing (SRP) on clinical parameters and circulating levels of leptin and adiponectin in patients with obesity with chronic periodontitis (CP).

Methods: Twenty-four patients with obesity and CP and 24 patients without obesity with CP were submitted to SRP. Clinical parameters were assessed at baseline and 3 and 6 months after therapy. Serum levels of leptin and adiponectin were evaluated at all time points, using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results: SRP improved the clinical parameters of both groups at 3 and 6 months (P < 0.05). Nonetheless, the patients without obesity presented a lower mean probing depth (PD) at 6 months after therapy and a greater reduction in PD from baseline to 6 months in the full-mouth analysis (primary outcome variable) and in initially deep sites (P < 0.05). Leptin serum levels were higher in patients with obesity than in patients without obesity at all time points (P < 0.05). No changes in the serum levels of leptin and adiponectin were observed in groups with and without obesity after therapy (P > 0.05).

Conclusions: Patients with obesity and CP presented lower reductions in PD than patients without obesity with CP at 6 months after SRP. Furthermore, the treatment did not affect the circulating levels of leptin and adiponectin in any group.