IS THERE A LINK BETWEEN PERIODONTAL-DISEASE AND CORONARY HEART-DISEASE

Objective: To provide a critical review of the studies completed to da te that have investigated a link between coronary heart disease and de ntal health. Design: Retrospective analysis. Setting: Mainly hospital- based patients or subjects involved in longitudinal health care studie s. Main outcome measures: The incidence of coronary heart disease and its relationship to dental health and other recognised risk factors. R esults: Evidence suggests that dental health, in particular periodonta l disease, may be a significant risk factor for coronary heart disease and further coronary events. Possible biological mechanisms that link the two diseases are appraised. Conclusions: There does appear to be increasing evidence that a relationship exists between dental health a nd coronary heart disease, especially in males aged 40-50 years. The p resence of a hyperinflammatory monocycte phenotype may provide a commo n biological mechanism that links the two diseases.