OBJECTIVETo study a population of rheumatoid arthritis patients and determine the extent of periodontal disease in these patients, in order to investigate the relationship between periodontal disease and rheumatoid arthritis.

METHODSThe experimental group was composed of 70 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and the control group consisted of 70 age- and gender-matched individuals without rheumatoid arthritis. The relationship between periodontal status in rheumatoid arthritis and control groups as well as the relationship between periodontal status and rheumatological findings in patients were analyzed.

RESULTSThe percentage of periodontal disease was statistically significant between experimental and control group (P < 0.01). The difference of average number of missing teeth and bleeding on probing in the experimental group and control group were not statistically significant (P >0.05). There were more number of periodontal disease index 5 or 6 in experimental group than in control group ( P < 0.05). Rheumatoid arthritis patients with moderate to severe bone loss had deeper degree of morning stiffness, erythrocyte sedimentation rate levels and serum C-reactive protein levels than patients with no or mild bone loss.

CONCLUSIONIndividuals with rheumatoid arthritis are more likely to experience periodontal disease compares to healthy subjects. They are also very likely to suffer from moderate to severe periodontitis.