title: Inflammation, cardiovascular disease and destructive periodontal diseases. The evolving role of the dental profession.
abstract: Destructive periodontal diseases have been associated with increased risk of atherosclerotic complications, including myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke. This finding comes at a time when our understanding of atherosclerotic complications are changing from a focus on the occlusion of arteries, due to the buildup of plaque deposits, to an increased awareness of the role of inflammation in plaque rupture and thrombus formation. The role of inflammation can have great significance to the dental profession if inflammatory cells and factors derived from chronic infections, such as destructive periodontal diseases, are shown to contribute to plaque rupture. This "Perspectives" feature will review the role of inflammation in atherosclerotic complications, and the association between destructive periodontal diseases, systemic inflammation and atherosclerotic complications. It will also highlight ongoing research designed to determine whether destructive periodontal diseases contribute to atherosclerotic complications.
authors.forename: Ronald G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Craig
mesh_terms: D000210:Acute-Phase Reaction / Q000150:complications; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000209:etiology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000502:physiology; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D018836:Inflammation Mediators