Association Between Coronary and Periodontal Disease

Research is being conducted to assist health car professionals in further understanding how periodontal diseases are directly related to cardiovascular disease. A study published in the Journal of Periodontology, shed light on why those people with periodontal diseases have a higher risk of coronary artery disease. The result of the study showed that periodontitis in cardiac patients was significantly more frequent than in non cardiac patients." The study also showed that 91 percent of the cardiac patients suffered with moderate to severe periodontal disease, while this proportion was 61 percent in non cardiac patients. It appears that periodontal disease influences the occurrence and the severity of coronary diseases and increases the risk of a stroke or heart attack. One theory is periodontal pathogens could enter the blood stream, invade the blood vessel walls and ultimately cause atherosclerosis, a multi-stage process that is sent into motion when the cells that line the arteries are damaged from smoking, toxic substance abuse or high blood pressure. The second theory is based on several studies that determine periodontal infections that may correlate with increased plasma levels of inflammation, creating blood clots. There is still much research that is needed to be done to understand the link between periodontal diseases and systemic disease such as cardiovascular and difficult to control diabetes. The data does show the importance of regular periodontal maintenance visits to ensure an healthy, disease free mouth.