GLP‐1 receptor agonists: Bridging diabetes, obesity, and periodontitis—A scoping review of emerging evidence
GLP-1 receptor agonists are medications commonly used to manage diabetes and obesity. In addition to their metabolic effects, laboratory and animal studies suggest that these drugs may influence biological processes also involved in gum disease, such as inflammation, immune response, and bone metabolism. This scoping review examined all available scientific studies on the relationship between GLP-1 receptor agonists and periodontal disease. Most of the existing evidence comes from mechanistic and preclinical research showing that these medications can reduce inflammation and support tissue repair in experimental models. Human studies are still very limited and have focused mainly on metabolic markers rather than on direct measures of gum health. So far, no clinical trial has tested whether GLP-1 medications can improve periodontal outcomes. Although no conclusions can be made for clinical dental practice today, the findings highlight an emerging and promising area of research. Well-designed clinical studies are needed to determine whether GLP-1 receptor agonists could eventually play a role in periodontal treatment.
Authors
- B.G. Loos
- Angeliki Polymeri (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5583-0365)
- Magda Feres
- William V. Giannobile
Institutions
- Harvard University (US)
- Academic Center for Dentistry Amsterdam (NL)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Journal of Periodontology
- Published
- 2026-02-19
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1002/jper.70092
- Primary Topic
- Oral microbiology and periodontitis research
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00