AIM: To assess the effect of periodontal treatment (PT) on glomerular filtration rate (GFR), systemic inflammation, or mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). METHODS: A literature search was performed on PubMed and Web of Science databases on articles published until December 2019. The PRISMA guidelines were used throughout the manuscript. RESULTS: Of the total studies found, only 18 met the inclusion criteria; four retrospective and 14 prospective studies (including 3 randomized controlled trials-RCT). After PT, 3 studies investigated GFR, 2 found significant improvement; 11 (including 2 RCTs) investigated C-reactive protein levels, 9 found a significant improvement (including the 2 RCTs); 5 (including 3 RCTs) investigated Interleukine-6 level, 4 found a significant improvement (including 2 RCTs) and 2 studies evaluated mortality, one (retrospective study) found a significant difference. CONCLUSIONS: Within the limitations of the present study, PT seems to improve CKD status, especially by reducing the systemic inflammation. Further RCTs are needed to confirm the results and specifically assess the influence of different types of PT in CKD patients. Taking into consideration the ability of PT to prevent further tooth loss and denutrition, early management of periodontitis is extremely important in patients with impaired renal function.