Periodontal status of liver transplant candidates and healthy controls

Background This study aimed to compare the periodontal status of liver transplant candidates (LTCs) with healthy controls. Methods Results Fifty liver transplant candidates (LTC group) and fifty patients without liver disease (control group) underwent a complete periodontal examination. The groups were matched according to sex, age, and smoking status. A structured questionnaire was applied to record demographic data, systemic health, and information related to liver disease. Full-mouth complete periodontal examination of six sites per tooth was performed: gingival recession (GR), probing depth (PD), attachment loss (AL), bleeding on probing (BOP), and visible plaque index (VPI). The groups were compared in regard to periodontal clinical variables. Patients with cirrhosis had greater prevalence of periodontitis than healthy controls (P < 0.001). In addition, they had greater mean percentage of sites with AL >= 3 mm (P = 0.008) and AL >= 5 mm (P = 0.023), greater mean AL (P = 0.003), greater mean gingival recession (P < 0.001), and more missing teeth than in the control group (P = 0.02). Conclusion Liver transplant candidates presented greater prevalence, extent, and severity of periodontitis than matched control patients.