Atherosclerosis has been defined as a progressive process that causes focal thickening of large to medium sized muscular & large elastic arteries. Periodontal disease is destruction of tissue supporting the tooth that occurs following the disease. If the disease progresses without therapeutic intervention final outcome is loss of teeth. The focal progression of the periodontal disease correlates to the inflammatory biomarkers such as pro-inflammatory cytokines & serum antibody titers for pathogenic periodontal bacteria. Various studies have demonstrated a close association between cardiovascular disease & periodontitis & furthermore oral hygiene & periodontal status are closely related to the occurrence of heart attacks.
Pucar, A., Milasin, J., Lekovic, V., et al. Correlation between atherosclerosis and periodontal putative pathogenic infection in coronary and internal mammary arteries. J Periodontol 2007; 7: 677-682.
Libby. Inflammation and atherosclerosis. Circulation 2002;105: 1135-43.
Kozarov, E., Sweier, D., et al. Detection of bacterial DNA in atheromatous plaques by Quantitaive PCR. Microbes Infect 2006; 8: 687- 93.
Johansson, C., S., Richter A. Periodontal conditions in patients with coronary heart disease: A Case Control Study. J Clin Periodontol 2008; 35: 199-205.
Costas Thomopoulos, Coatas Tsioufis et al. Periodontitis and coronary artery disease: a questioned association between periodontal and vascular plaques. Am J Cadiovasc Dis 2011; 1:76-83.
Bahekar AA, Singh S et al. The prevalence and incidence of coronary heart disease is significantly increased in periodontitis: A meta analysis. Am Heart J 2007; 1(54): 830-837.
Mattila KJ et al. Association between dental health and acute myocardial infarction. BMJ 1989; 297: 779-791.
Beck JD. Relationship of periodontal disease to carotid artery intima media wall thiacknee: the atherosclerotic risk in communities (ARIC) Study. Arterioscler Thromb Vacs Biol 2001; 21:1816-1822.
Tonnetti Ms. Treatment of periodontitis and endothelial function. N Engl J Med 2007; 356:911-920.
Devarienx M. Periodontal microbiota and increased Intima media thickness: oral infections and Vascular Disease: Epidemiologic study (INVEST). Circulation 2005; 111: 576-82.
Engebretson SP, Lamster IB et al. Radiographic Measures of Chronic periodontitis and Carotid artery plaque. Stroke 2005; 36:561-66.