Periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease are both multifactorial disease with a high prevalence worldwide. Cross-sectional and longitudinal prospective clinical studies show some evidence for a bidirectional relationship. Periodontitis and cardiovascular diseases share some common risk factors and there exist a mechanistic link between both. Earlier concepts of pathogenesis of cardiovascular events had lipid centric view of etiology. However, in recent years, there has been a shift towards importance of inflammatory processes in the body to be responsible for the disease. In spite of the rising prevalence of both diseases, many people remain unaware of their association with each other. Hence, this review article summarizes the potential link mechanisms in the association between periodontitis and cardiovascular diseases.

Keywords: Cardiovascular diseases, Periodontitis, Infection, Inflammation, Risk factors, Atherosclerosis.

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Dr Anisha Avijeeta