Vitamin D may impact periodontal surgery outcomes

Vitamin D status may be critical for postperiodontal surgery healing, according to a new study in the Journal of Dental Research (May 9, 2011).

The study authors from the University of Michigan School of Dentistry looked at 40 vitamin-D-sufficient and -insufficient patients with severe chronic periodontitis. The patients received periodontal surgery, daily calcium and vitamin D supplements, and self-administered teriparatide or a placebo for six weeks.

The researchers evaluated serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels at baseline and six weeks and six months after surgery. Clinical and radiographic outcomes were evaluated over one year.

Here are some of the results:

• Placebo patients with a baseline vitamin D deficiency had significantly less clinical attachment loss (CAL) gain and probing depth (PPD) reduction than vitamin-D-sufficient individuals.
• Vitamin D levels had no significant impact on CAL and PPD improvements in teriparatide patients at one year, but infrabony defect resolution was greater in teriparatide-treated vitamin-D-sufficient versus -deficient individuals.

"Vitamin D deficiency at the time of periodontal surgery negatively affects treatment outcomes for up to one year," the authors concluded.