Objective: Varying levels of sex hormones across the menstrual cycle in young systemically healthy females may alter tissue responses to plaque, resulting in increased gingival inflammation. Also, higher severity and prevalence of gingivitis has been demonstrated in adult women than men, attributed to hormonal changes. Further, it has been reported that gingivitis raises the levels of systemic inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein. This interventional trial aimed to evaluate the effect of supragingival scaling on serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels along with periodontal parameters in systemically healthy women of reproductive age with natural gingivitis.
Method and materials: In total, 57 women of reproductive age were enrolled into two groups. The test group (n = 30) comprised systemically healthy women with gingivitis who received supragingival scaling. The control group (n = 27) included systemically and periodontally healthy women. Periodontal parameters (Gingival Index, Plaque Index, pocket probing depth, bleeding on probing) and serum hsCRP levels were recorded at baseline for both the groups. Follow-up of test group participants was done at 3 and 6 months.
Results: Serum hsCRP and periodontal parameters were significantly higher in the test group than in the control group at baseline, and this decreased significantly after treatment in the test group at the 6-month follow-up (P ≤ .05). Gingival Index, bleeding on probing, and hsCRP in the test group at 6 months were reduced to the baseline levels of systemically and periodontally healthy women.
Conclusion: Treatment of gingival inflammation can help in lowering the systemic and local inflammation to the levels of systemically and periodontally healthy women.