Gum disease and COVID-19

(By Dr. Joseph D. Lim and Dr. Kenneth Lester Lim, BS-MMG, DDM, MSc-OI)

GUM DISEASE may increase the risk of complications, hospitalization and death among patients with severe cases of COVID-19, a new study shows.

No published research has looked at the potentially destructive effects of gum disease in patients with COVID-19.

Infected and inflamed gums may result in higher rates of complications and more fatal outcomes for individuals diagnosed with the SARS-COV-2 virus, according to the new international study led by researchers at McGill University, a public research university in Montreal, Canada.

The study, published in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology, suggests that gum disease may be associated with higher risks of complications from COVID-19, including admission to the Intensive Care Unit and death.

The multi-national study is a cooperation between researchers from McGill University, Complutense University of Madrid, Hamas Medical Corporation of Qatar and Qatar University.

The study crossed dental records with medical records of patients with severe cases of COVID-19 in Qatar between February and July 2020.

It included 568 patients and took into consideration demographic, medical and behavior factors.

       “Looking at the conclusions of our study we can highlight the importance of good oral health in the prevention and management of COVID-19 complications,” says Dr. Belinda Nicolau, contributing author and Full Professor in the Faculty of Dentistry at McGill University.

There is a “very strong” connection between gum disease and disease outcome, she says.

The study indicates that COVID-19 patients with gum disease were 3.5 times more likely to be admitted to the ICU, 4.5 times more likely to need a ventilator and 8.8 times more likely to die when comparing to those without gum disease.

Gum disease, known to dentists as periodontitis, is a serious infection of the gums that damages supporting tissues of the teeth. When untreated, it can lead to bone loss.

Gum disease is preventable with good oral hygiene, regular brushing of the teeth, flossing and dental check-ups.

“Periodontitis has been considered as a risk factor for a number of both oral and systemic diseases,” explains Wenji Cai, co-author of the study  and a PhD student from McGill’s Faculty of Dentistry.

“It’s an invisible pandemic. We need to raise awareness of the disease and make more effort to maintain periodontal health, especially during this global pandemic.”

Founded in Montreal in 1821, McGill University is Canada’s top ranked medical doctoral university.

McGill is consistently ranked as one of the top universities, both nationally and internationally. It is a world-renowned institution of higher learning with research activities spanning two campuses, 11 faculties, 13 professional schools, 300 programs of study and over 40,000 students, including more than 10,200 graduate students.

(Dr. Joseph D. Lim is the former Associate Dean of the UE College of Dentistry, former Dean of the College of Dentistry, National University, past president and honorary fellow of the Asian Oral Implant Academy, and honorary fellow of the Japan College of Oral Implantologists and Honorary Life Member of Thai Association of Dental Implantology. For questions on dental health, e-mail jdlim2008@gmail.com or text 0917-8591515.)