Relationship between periodontal disease (PD) and Cardiovascular Disease (CVD): a review of topic

Abstract

Several clinical studies had investigated the possible relationship between periodontal disease (PD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Some studies prove an epidemiological association between PD and CVD, that from the biological viewpoint may be linked to both chronic inflammation triggered by microbes and persistent microbial infection by periodontal pathogens. In that sense, individuals presenting deep periodontal pockets without periodontal treatment, increased number of missing teeth and other periodontal markers like clinical attachment level and bleeding on probing, seem to be important risk factors markers for cardiovascular disease. Both, EP and cerebrovascular diseases are frequent, and those association is important in Public Health setting. EP and CVD share risk factors such as age, tobacco, stress, socioeconomic status and fat metabolism, so that the chances of introducing confusion into the studies is high. Few population studies have examined the effect of periodontal treatment on the risk of developing cardiovascular events (either primary or secondary prevention), however, it must be noted that the evidence in human studies suggest a possible beneficial effect of periodontal treatment of cardiovascular function index. In this paper, we review the literature that enables the general dentist and specialist an approach to this problem and better understanding of this phenomenon to patient benefit.