Is a Potential Therapeutic Strategy of Periodontal Intervention on Cardiovascular Disease, Yes or No?

Abstract

Aims: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) and periodontitis are both chronic inflammatory disorders which are highly prevalent in populations. Bacteria involved in the periodontal disease have been found to be cardiovascular risk markers. Periodontal pathogens may contribute to the atheroma pathogenesis. Severe periodontitis is correlated with the prevalence of bacteraemia, and poor periodontal status is an important risk factor for CVD. However, the association is unclear. If the association is causal, the periodontal therapy will lead to an attenuation of the effects on CVD. The study aimed to study if the periodontal intervention therapy presented therapeutic effects on CVD. Methods: English language literature on periodontal intervention therapy on CVD is causal or not. The literature revealed 62 papers associated with this study to investigate the relationship between periodontitis and CVD. Results: The literature supported the idea that periodontal infections had been associated with CVD. Certain periodontal therapy is associated with bacteraemia, and the prevalence of bacteraemia may arise from periodontal therapy and poor oral hygiene practices. Periodontal therapy not only presented therapeutic effects by reducing cytokine activity and C-response protein (CRP), but also caused bacteraemia transitorily. Effective antibiotic prophylaxis pre- or post-periodontal therapy presented some beneficial effects on bacteraemia or CVD. Conclusion: Severe periodontitis causes systemic inflammation and endothelial dysfunction, and goes beyond the oral cavity. Periodontal intervention would contribute to the prevention of atherosclerosis, and antibiotic prophylaxis would be helpful to decrease bacteraemia and reduce the onset of CVD.