Review. The Link between Periodontal Disease, Inflammation and Atherosclerosis — an Interdisciplinary Approach

Periodontal disease is a chronic inflammatory disease that results from the activity of altered oral microbiome, leading to altered immune reaction, destruction of tissues supporting the teeth, and oral bone loss. This disease is particularly associated with an expressed systemic inflammation, being considered nowadays an inflammatory disorder. At the same time, inflammation has been recognized to play a major role in the development of atherosclerotic lesions. Atheromatous plaque formation is triggered by alterations in the structure of the endothelium, which lead to the expression of adhesion molecules and recruitment of immune cells such as macrophages, in the arterial wall. While the association between periodontal disease, inflammation and cardiovascular diseases has been well established, the causality relation between these three entities has not been demonstrated so far. This review presents the most common advances in understanding the complex link between periodontal disease, inflammation and atherosclerosis, as a common pathway leading to increased cardiovascular risk.