title: Periodontal disease as a risk factor for heart disease.
abstract: Many individuals with cardiovascular disease appear from epidemiologic studies to have either periodontal disease or to be edentulous. A Finnish group has provided evidence that after conventional risk factors for stroke and heart attacks have been accounted for, there still remains a significant relationship between dental disease and cardiovascular disease. A preliminary analysis of our own investigation of the interrelationship of medical and dental health shows that individuals with a high dental morbidity (ie, edentulous or with many missing teeth) have a high prevalence of coronary heart disease and stroke. A model based on how smoking can predispose to periodontal disease is used to explain how periodontal disease could be a potential risk factor for heart disease.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Loesche
mesh_terms: D016470:Bacteremia / Q000150:complications; D001421:Bacteria, Anaerobic / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D009066:Mouth, Edentulous / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications