THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PERIODONTAL DISEASES AND SYSTEMIC HEALTH CONDITIONS
Keywords:
periodontitis, systemic inflammation, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, respiratory diseaseAbstract
Periodontal diseases are chronic inflammatory conditions that affect the gingiva,
periodontal ligament, cementum, and alveolar bone and may contribute to the total inflammatory
burden of the body.
Background: Epidemiological and mechanistic research has linked periodontitis with diabetes,
atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, adverse pregnancy outcomes,
rheumatoid arthritis, chronic kidney disease, and other systemic conditions. Shared risk factors and
residual confounding make causal interpretation difficult.
Objective: To critically analyse the biological pathways, strength of association, intervention
evidence, and practical implications of the relationship between periodontal and systemic diseases.
Materials and methods: Narrative synthesis of systematic reviews, consensus reports, cohort
studies, randomised trials, and international guidance published from 2012 to 2026. Evidence was
classified as association, mechanistic plausibility, or improvement in systemic outcomes after
periodontal intervention.
Results: The most consistent bidirectional relationship is between periodontitis and diabetes. Nonsurgical
periodontal therapy may produce a modest short-term improvement in HbA1c, but it does
not replace medical treatment. Associations with cardiovascular, respiratory, pregnancy-related, and
immune-inflammatory outcomes are clinically relevant but do not prove that periodontal treatment
prevents major systemic events. Conclusion: Dental and primary-care professionals should use
shared risk assessment, screening, referral, and supportive periodontal care while avoiding
exaggerated causal claims.
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