Periodontal therapy: a novel acute inflammatory model

Objective and Design: We designed a clinical trial at the Eastman Dental Hospital with the objective of developing a novel in vivo inflammatory model. Subjects: We recruited 55 subjects suffering from severe periodontitis. Treatment: Participants received intensive periodontal therapy. Methods: Blood samples were collected at baseline and 1 and 7 and 30 days after treatment and processed for a series of biomarkers (TNF-alpha, IL-6, CRP and Fibrinogen) by high-sensitivity assays and differential blood counts (standard laboratory procedures). Results: TNF-alpha levels were significantly raised only after 1 day of therapy (P < 0.01) whereas IL-6 (P < 0.01), CRP (P < 0.001) and Fibrinogen (P < 0.001) concentrations peaked 24hrs after and returned to baseline values within one month following therapy. Mild neutrophilia, monocytosis and lymphopenia were also observed. Conclusions: Intensive periodontal therapy induces a one week moderate inflammatory response and therefore it is proposed as a novel therapeutic and reliable non drug-induced in vivo model of acute inflammation.