Effects of Antihypertensive Drugs on Alveolar Bone Loss in Patients with Chronic Periodontitis: A Retrospective Study

Abstract

Objective: This retrospective study aims to evaluate the possible effects of antihypertensive drugs on alveolar bone loss in patients with chronic periodontitis. Methods: 50 patients on antihypertensive drugs selected as the experimental group and 50 patients with chronic periodontitis with no known systemic illnesses as control group were randomly selected as the study samples. Orthopantomographs were obtained, calibration and assessment of alveolar bone loss was performed by using the computer software program available in the faculty, through radiographic linear measurement procedure. Premolars, first and second molars of both maxilla and mandible were measured from the most apical point to the cementoenamel junction for mesial and distal aspects in the form of millimetres and percentile of the root length. Data was statistically analyzed using independent t-test and Analysis of Covariance in SPSS Version 23 with significance at P-value, p<0.05. Results: A total of 2428 sites were measured. Analysis has shown that there is significant difference in alveolar bone loss in experimental group and control group (p=0.002). Bone loss in the experimental group was less (16.28 ± 9.48) compared to the control group (22.66 ± 12.58). Within the experimental group, there was no significant difference for the duration of antihypertensive drug intake. However, the bone loss was more among the males (19.71 ± 11.22) than the females (12.99 ± 5.99). Conclusion: Antihypertensive drugs appear to have a positive effect on alveolar bone loss progression. Patients under these drugs exhibit lower levels of bone loss compared to those who are not.