RESUMEN
The objective of this research was to evaluate the treatment of periodontal disease and its effects on carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and expression of laboratory markers related to atherosclerosis. Twenty-three healthy patients (group 1) and 21 patients with moderate to severe periodontitis (group 2) underwent evaluation of clinical periodontal parameters. The patients were submitted to CIMT measurements and laboratory evaluations at the start of the study (0 months), 6 months, and 12 months. All patients received oral hygiene instruction; patients in group 2 also underwent supragingival and subgingival scaling and root planing. A statistically significant improvement in clinical periodontal parameters occurred in both groups (P < 0.05). Improvements were more evident between the first and second evaluations and were greater in group 2. Both groups experienced a statistically significant decrease in CIMT in the first 6 months (P < 0.05). Treatments--oral hygiene instruction in group 1 and instruction plus mechanical periodontal instrumentation in group 2--were effective in improving clinical periodontal parameters of both groups and promoting reduction in CIMT at 6 months.