Periodontal Disease and Cardiovascular Disease: An Extreme Interaction

Periodontitis is a multifactorial and complex chronic inflammatory and infectious disease which has been linked to various systemic complications, including cardiovascular disease. This association has been difficult to prove because epidemiological studies are biased or classic risk factors that are difficult to control, cardiovascular disease also includes a variety of multifactorial diseases also making it even more difficult to determine the cause-effect. The studies reported in the literature that attempt to explain the relationship between periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease, from their different methodological designs, show sufficient evidence to consider periodontal disease as an indicator of cardiovascular risk, supremely necessary information for Physicians and dentists who in their clinical practice protocols should include interdisciplinary work, seeking for comprehensive management of the individual.