Periodontal disease related to oxidative stress

Abstract

The study evaluates oxidative stress (OS) in patients with different stages of periodontal disease (PD) and the influence of their smoking habits on OS. PD is related to connective tissue inflammation, which leads to deterioration of the supporting structures of the tooth. OS is a condition characterized by overproduction of free radicals (FR), which may be involved in PD, causing periodontal tissue damage and other related diseases. Study patients' were grouped as I-non smokers (n=45) and II-smokers (n=45); and consisted of patients with 3 PD stages: mild (1), moderate (2) and severe (3). As a control group, 30 healthy subjects (all non smokers) with no signs of PD were selected. FR levels were determined by the D-Roms test, total antioxidant capacity (AOC) was determined by the OXY-adsorbent test, (Diacron, Italy) and lipid peroxidation (LP) was determined by the fl uorometric method with thiobarbituric acid and its end product, malonyldialdehyde (MDA). OS was found in the periodontal tissue and serum of PD patients, with the highest level of FR in the severe stage (3) in non smokers (p<0.05) as well as smokers (p<0.01); AOC showed decreasing values from mild (1) to severe stage (3) of PD for smokers (p<0.05). LP in serum showed the highest level in severe stage (3) in both groups i.e., non smokers and smokers (p<0.05) compared to controls. Based on the obtained results, we may conclude that PD is related to OS and may either be a cause or a trigger for more accelerated OS. Cigarette smoking increased FR production and is a serious factor exacerbating further tissue damage in PD. These findings may contribute to possible use of efficient antioxidant agents as a preventive measure for PD and as a therapy for better disease outcome.