Correlation between Prevotella intermedia and intraoral metal alloys.

OBJECTIVE

We investigated the potential association between intraoral metal alloys and the presence of Prevotella intermedia in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

METHODS

A case-control study was conducted using bacteriological tests. The RA group included 80 patients, of whom 40 tested positive for Prevotella intermedia and 40 tested negative. The control group consisted of 81 subjects without RA, with 39 testing positive for Prevotella intermedia and 42 testing negative.

RESULTS

Univariate analysis identified the presence of intraoral metal alloys (lingual fixed retainers or metal-ceramic crowns), male sex, and gingival inflammation as significant predictors of Prevotella Intermedia presence (P < 0.05). In multivariate analysis, intraoral metal alloys demonstrated the strongest association, with an odds ratio = 4.21 (P < 0.001). However, no significant difference in Prevotella intermedia positivity was observed between the RA and control groups.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that intraoral metal alloys are associated with an increased prevalence of Prevotella intermedia in subgingival pockets among adults, independent of RA status.