Periodontal Condition of Cirrhotic Liver Transplant Candidates and Health Controls

Objective: The objective of this investigation was to compare the periodontal condition of liver transplant candidates (LTCs) with healthy controls. Methods: A complete periodontal examination was performed on fifty liver transplant candidates (LTC group) and fifty patients without liver disease (control group). Demographic data, systemic health and information related to liver diseasewere collected using a structured questionnaire. 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. Results: LCT demonstrated 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: LTCs exhibited increased prevalence, extent, and severity of periodontitis when compared with control patients. Keywords: end-stage liver disease, liver cirrhosis, liver transplantation, liver, periodontal diseases