The Association Between Weight Loss and Periodontal Inflammation
Date
2023-12-01
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Publisher
Saudi Digital Library
Abstract
Background: Evidence reports an association between obesity and periodontal disease, however minimal research exists regarding the possible impact of weight loss through diet or bariatric surgery on periodontal condition. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of weight loss through diet or surgery on periodontal health.
Method: This study was a single centre quasi-experimental study with 6- and 12- weeks follow up recruited patients allocated to two groups; diet route and bariatric surgery route. Dental, social history, and periodontal examinations were carried out for each participant to determine their periodontal status. Masticatory function was assessed objectively (masticatory efficiency) using a validated colour-mixing chewing assessment and a validated self-reported questionnaire exploring participants oral health perception questionnaire (Dental habits, Obesity stigma in dental office, masticatory ability). Patient subsequently received bariatric surgery or a 12-week low-calorie diet. Six- and twelve-weeks following surgery or diet, the clinical and masticatory assessments were repeated.
Results: This thesis will present partial findings of the ongoing study. The study recruited 7 participants living with obesity (4 in the diet group, 3 in the surgery group) all participants were recruited for baseline assessment, and 2 reported 6 weeks follow up (one from each group). The mean age in years within surgery and diet groups was 35.29 SD± 8.38, with weight mean range of 136.80 Kg SD± 10.3 and 129.53 Kg SD± 6.35 for surgery and diet groups respectively. Questionnaire analysis for obesity stigma in the dental office demonstrated 28.6% avoided dental care treatment due to feeling uncomfortable and reported that a dental care provider critiqued or insulted them regarding their weight.
Conclusions: Due to the ongoing nature of this study, no conclusion can be reported regarding the influence of weight loss on the periodontal status. The self-reported questionnaire reported that one third of the enrolled participants faced discrimination related to their weight in the dental office.
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Impact Statement
The main finding of this study revolved around the weight stigma and weight discrimination in the dental setting. This field of research is under reported in the literature. The behavior of dental care providers can unintentionally lead to bias against these patients, and the equipment of the dental setting can participate in this bias. Due to the lack of studies reported in the dental setting we have reported on the difficulties encountered by physicians in examining patients with obesity. Physicians have reported multiple barriers to providing routine care for patients with obesity, these included safety concerns for patients and staff, legal liability, and inadequate training of the staff. Studies have reported that an increased BMI is correlated with higher incidence of periodontal disease, which highlights the importance of providing adequate dental care for patients with obesity. Our study has reported 28% of patients with obesity encountered weight bias in the dental office. Recommendations to minimise the effect of weight bias in the dental setting and to increase the patients comfort to visit their dental provider can include the following: training the dental office staff about weight stigma and the effect of obesity on dental health, ensuring that the dental office can accommodate treatment of patients with obesity by providing suitable dental chairs and waiting area chairs. Further research of the topic would increase awareness of weight stigma and discrimination amongst dental practitioners. Tackling these aspects would increase the comfort of patients with obesity to visit their dental care professionals and aid in
Keywords
periodontology, periodontal inflammation, weight loss, association, gum inflammation, periodontitis, gingivitis
Citation
The Association Between Weight Loss and Periodontal Inflammation