Use of TNF Inhibitors in Rheumatoid Arthritis and Implications for the Periodontal Status: For the Benefit of Both?

The inflammatory disease rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and periodontitis show similarities in misbalances of cytokine levels, such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). RA has been treated for two decades with TNF-α inhibitors which are effective by blocking TNF-α’s destructive action. Since RA and periodontitis show similarities in high levels of TNF-α, the periodontal status of RA patients may improve with the use of anti-TNF-α therapy. To assess...