Aim: This parallel-group double blind prospective placebo-controlled clinical trial evaluated the impact of anti-infective periodontal therapy on the expression of surrogate parameters of cardiovascular health including arterial stiffness, pulse wave reflection, and blood pressure.

Material and Methods: 80 patients with severe untreated periodontitis were subjected to anti-infective periodontal therapy, comprising bacterial biofilm removal by scaling and root planning either with or without administration of systemic antibiotics. The following parameters were assessed at baseline and 12 month post-therapy: periodontal bleeding on probing, representing a clinical parameter for active inflammation (BoP), pulse wave velocity (PWV), augmentation index (AIx), central systolic pressure (SBPao) and central pulse pressure (PPao) using an oscillometric device (Arteriograph).

Results: Preliminary data evaluation demonstrated, that 12 months post therapy reduction of periodontal bleeding on probing correlated significantly with decreased values of PWV, SBPao, PPao, AIx, and AugP (p<0.05, respectively) whereas peripheral blood pressure remained unchanged.

Conclusions: Successful reduction of periodontal inflammation is associated with improved markers of arterial dysfunction.