Association between atherosclerosis and periodontitis - A brief review.

Thasleema, S. Aafrin; Don, K. R.

Over the past two decades, the amount of evidence corroborating an association between dental plaque bacteria and coronary diseases that develop as a result of atherosclerosis has increased. Thus, concern about possible links between periodontal disease (PD) and atherosclerotic vascular disease (ASVD) has intensified and is driving an active field of investigation into possible association and causality. The two disorders share several common risk factors, including cigarette smoking, age, and diabetes mellitus. There are several mechanisms by which dental plaque bacteria may initiate or worsen atherosclerotic processes: Activation of innate immunity, bacteremia related to dental treatment, and direct involvement of mediators activated by dental plaque and involvement of cytokines and heat shock proteins from dental plaque bacteria. There are common predisposing factors which influence both periodontitis and atherosclerosis. Both diseases can be initiated in early childhood, although the first symptoms may not appear until adulthood. Endothelium damage caused by the formation of lipid stripes in early childhood may lead to bacteria penetrating into blood circulation after oral cavity procedures for children as well as for patients with aggressive and chronic periodontitis. The focus of this review is to assess whether available data support an independent association between ASVD and PD and whether PD treatment might modify ASVD risks or outcomes.

ATHEROSCLEROSIS; PERIODONTITIS; PERIODONTAL disease; DENTAL plaque; CORONARY disease

Drug Invention Today, 2019, Vol 11, Issue 1, p177

0975-7619

Academic Journal