Vol. 7, Issue 1, Part A (2025)

Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease that results from complex interaction among bacteria proliferating in periodontal pockets and the host immune response. Untreated periodontitis subsequently leads to recession of the periodontal tissues, ultimately affecting the alveolar bone. Recent studies have identified potential associations between periodontitis and systemic inflammation, infectious disease, and chronic diseases such as coronary artery disease (CAD), cerebrovascular disease (CVD), and diabetes mellitus (DM).
Research on the bidirectional relationship between periodontitis and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease has recently gained attention following the development of innovative imaging methods for elucidating atherosclerotic lesions. Despite these kinds of advances, effective management methods for atherosclerotic CVD still remain elusive. Periodontal treatment methods that primarily improve oral conditions, such as scaling and root planing, have been reported to decrease systemic markers of inflammation and increase patients’ quality of life. These findings have instigated interest in how treatment of such dental diseases might also affect systemic conditions.
To better evaluate the role of periodontal disease in the development of cardiovascular disease, an up-to-date systematic review of longitudinal studies focusing on periodontitis and cardiovascular disease outcomes has been conducted. Systemic inflammation and infectious diseases, including periodontitis, have been implicated as important risk factors for the development of CAD, MI, and stroke. As systemic diseases, these maladies are thought to be a consequence of atherosclerotic plaque accumulation, platelet activation, and thrombus propagation on ruptured plaques. As a chronic disease, CAD has a lengthy, often asymptomatic preclinical phase extending many decades prior to clinical presentation of an event. Early intervention in the course of the disease could enable some forms of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease to be effectively treated and managed.