Iris Publishers Journal of Dentistry & Oral Health

  Authored by  David M Harris*, Abstract Background:  Periodontal disease is linked to numerous systemic diseases and it is known that periodontal therapy (PT) is effective in reducing the severity of those diseases. We tested the idea that PT also has a positive effect on quality of life and general wellness. Methods:  Patients scheduled for PT at the Rutgers Periodontics Clinic (Newark, NJ 07101) were administered the RAND-36 quality of life questionnaire before and at least 3-months after the procedure. Results:  The Wilcoxin signed ranks test demonstrates a significant improvement in wellness following Periodontal Therapy with a p-value=0.02. Conclusion:  In this sample most patient’s general wellness improved following PT. Improvement was in the categories of physical functioning, energy and emotional well-being. Keywords:  Periodontitis; Periodontal therapy; Wellness; RAND-36; Questionnaire; Systemic disease Introduction Periodontitis is an infec...