Systemic host immuno-inflammatory response to dental extractions and periodontitis.

OBJECTIVES

Little is known about the host immuno-inflammatory response to dental extractions. The purpose of this pilot clinical study was to explore the effect of both periodontitis and dental extractions on the host systemic immuno-inflammatory response.

STUDY DESIGN

We recruited and collected baseline blood samples on 41 essentially healthy patients. A subset of 22 subjects underwent single (n = 11) or multiple (n = 11) tooth extractions with additional blood samples taken at 1 hour following single tooth extraction and at 8 and 24 hours following multiple tooth extractions. Samples were used for determination of an array of 12 cytokines known to play key roles in innate and adaptive immunity.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference in cytokine levels between the pre- and post-tooth extraction samples for either extraction group for the time points measured. Nor was there a positive relationship between the level of any of the cytokines and periodontal disease status as measured by mean probing depths and other periodontal disease parameters.

CONCLUSION

Our pilot data suggest that the body is well adjusted to deal with the inflammation and bacteremia associated with dental extractions and periodontal disease.