Salivary microbial shifting in hypertensive patients with chronic periodontitis after scaling and root surface debridement

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of scaling and root surface debridement (SRP) on salivary bacterial counts and systolic and diastolic blood pressure in hypertensive patients with chronic periodontitis, with a focus on clinical significance.

An observational trial included 24 chronic periodontitis patients, eleven of them were hypertensive patients. Non-surgical periodontal treatment was administered to all patients, with clinical parameters including gingival index (GI), plaque index (PI), and probing pocket depth (PPD) recorded. Saliva samples were collected before and after SRP to quantify total bacterial counts and specific bacterial counts.

Two months following SRP, PI and PPD in every subject under study demonstrated good responses. In hypertension patients, the salivary bacterial count was significantly higher following SRP (P = 0.0221). The incidence of Porphyromonas gingivalis in hypertension patients significantly decreased after treatment (P = 0.0386). Despite this, there was no discernible decrease in blood pressure following treatment.

SRP alone was ineffective in reducing overall bacterial counts, but P. gingivalis levels responded favorably. Regular periodontal assessment is crucial for hypertensive individuals to mitigate cardiovascular risk.

Periodontal therapy in hypertensive patients may improve oral health but might not significantly impact blood pressure. Regular periodontal evaluation is essential for managing cardiovascular risk in hypertension.