Clinical evaluation of periodontal disease in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: A cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the presence of periodontal disease among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in comparison with a control group. METHOD AND MATERIALS: The study included 44 patients diagnosed with RA according to American Rheumatism Association (ARA) criteria, who were attending the Morales Meseguer Hospital Rheumatology Service (Murcia, Spain), and 41 control subjects. Patients younger than 18 years or patients suffering systemic diseases that could affect the immune system were excluded. Age, sex, smoking habits, alcohol consumption, and body mass index were registered. Each patient underwent a full periodontal examination. RESULTS: Bleeding on probing was significantly greater in the RA group (0.9 +/- 0.36) than the control (P < .001). The Plaque Index was significantly higher in the RA group (0.76 +/- 0.34) versus the control group (0.55 +/- 0.2) (P < .001). RA patients showed a 0.13 increased risk of periodontal disease (95% confidence interval, 0.05-0.37). CONCLUSION: Patients with RA suffered a higher risk of periodontal disease and for this reason these patients must be instructed to intensify their oral hygiene regimes.