An association between long-term non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug therapy and the severity of periodontal disease.

The present study was undertaken to compare the periodontal status of a group of 50 patients on long-term non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) therapy with that of an age and sex-matched group of 42 controls. The mean duration of drug therapy in the study group was 9 years (range 2-30 years). The clinical parameters investigated were plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), pocket probing depth (PPD), loss of attachment (LOA), gingival recession (GR) and gingival fluid flow (GFF). Long cone periapical radiographs were also taken to score the amount of alveolar bone resorption. Examinations were carried out on 6 Ramfjord teeth in each subject. The results showed that there were no significant differences between the groups for PI, GI, PPD, LOA, GR or alveolar bone resorption. However, a highly significant difference was seen between the gingival fluid flow in the study (16.74 +/- 10.61) and control (37.72 +/- 28.63) groups (p less than 0.001). It is suggested that this may be associated with the specific effects of NSAIDs in reducing the vascularity and permeability of small blood vessels.