Association between nutrition behavior and the severity of periodontitis - a cross-sectional study based on a Practice-Based Research Network.

• Applicant: Dr. Stefanie Anna Peikert
• Subject Area: Dentistry, Oral Surgery
• Term: from 2019 to 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 427609921

There is growing evidence from experimental and clinical data indicating a correlation between alimentary habits and systemic as well as periodontal inflammation. Nevertheless, a large part of the previous findings on the influence of diet on periodontal inflammatory parameters was only evaluated in interventional randomized clinical trials. However, there is still al lack of cross-sectional studies covering both complete dental and periodontal findings (dental finding, probing depths, clinical attachment level, bleeding on probing, tooth mobility, furcation) as well as a comprehensive validated assessment of nutritional behavior. The aim of this cross-sectional study is to investigate the influence of different nutritional groups by a validated nutrition questionnaire of the Robert Koch Institute on periodontal inflammation in a sufficiently large scaled cohort. In context of this scientific approach, 25 graduates of the postgraduate master's program in Periodontology and Implant Therapy at the University of Freiburg will be implemented in a practice-based research network. After initial calibration of all participating investigators, potential patients will be screened for inclusion and exclusion criteria at all sites of the practice-based research network. Following written consent, patients will undergo a pretreatment followed by an accurate record of the dietary habits of the last 4 weeks by a validated nutritional questionnaire of the Robert Koch Institute. The data collection including dental status, periodontal status, general anamnesis and special anamnesis is standardized by the software "ParoStatus" (ParoStatus.de GmbH, Berlin). Collected data will be transmitted to the study center in a pseudonymised digital manner and finally statistically analyzed.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Co-Investigators: Professorin Dr. Petra Ratka-Krüger; Professor Dr. Johan Peter Wölber