Periodontal Disease have higher odds of developing Acute periapical abscesses: Study

Acute periapical abscesses pose a significant health risk and require prompt and effective treatment. This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of acute periapical abscesses in individuals diagnosed with periodontal disease. Data from 1,799,122 patients who visited a large healthcare facility were recorded and analyzed. Diagnosis codes for periodontal disease and acute periapical abscesses were retrieved from the healthcare database, and statistical analysis was conducted to assess their association.

Patients with periodontal disease exhibited a significantly higher occurrence of acute periapical abscesses compared to those without periodontal disease (P < .0001). The calculated odds ratio for acute periapical abscesses among patients with periodontal disease was 46.2, showing a statistically significant difference in prevalence compared to the general hospital patient population (P < .0001).

After adjusting for diabetes mellitus as a comorbidity, the odds ratio for acute periapical abscesses in patients with a history of periodontal disease was 12.19, with statistical significance (P < .0001). Similarly, after adjusting for smoking as a comorbidity, the odds ratio for acute periapical abscesses in patients with a history of periodontal disease was 10.13, also statistically significant (P < .0001).

The findings of this study suggest that individuals with periodontal disease have a significantly higher likelihood of developing acute periapical abscesses. These results highlight the importance of early diagnosis and effective management of periodontal disease to reduce the risk of acute periapical abscesses and their associated complications.

Reference:

Association of periodontal disease and the prevalence of acute periapical abscesses. Rotstein, Ilan et al. The Journal of the American Dental Association, Volume 156, Issue 3, 234 - 238