Association between Gastric Helicobacter Pylori Infection and Periodontal Disease

Statement of Problem: Colonization of Helicobacter pylori (Hp) in the oral cavity may increase in the presence of the periodontal disease. It has been suggested that one of the possible mechanisms of reinfection is the recolonization from dental plaque. The purpose of this study was to determine whether periodontal disease was associated with Hp infection. Sixty-five consecutive patients (34 males and 31 females) undergoing endoscopy for investigation of dyspepsia were included in this descriptive cross-sectional study. The mean age of the patients was 41.3±13.5 years. Periodontal examination and Rapid Urease Test (RUT) were done for all of the participants. Statistical analysis was done, using Chi-square test. 53.8% of the patients had periodontal disease and 61.5% of them had gastric Hp infection. There was no statistically significant association between periodontal disease and gastric Hp infection (p =0.455). This study revealed that the presence of periodontal disease in patients with gastric Hp infection could be an independent status.