Systemic diseases associated with periodontitis
- Periodontitis is classified as a manifestation of systemic diseases.
- At least 16 systemic diseases have been linked to periodontitis.
- These diseases contribute to decreased host resistance to infections or dysfunction in gum tissue.
- Examples of systemic diseases associated with periodontitis include diabetes mellitus and hematologic disorders.
Diabetes mellitus and periodontitis
- Individuals with impaired fasting glucose may have a higher degree of periodontal inflammation.
- Diabetes mellitus is associated with an increased risk of periodontitis.
- Proper management of diabetes can help improve periodontal health.
- Periodontal treatment may be necessary for individuals with diabetes to prevent complications.
- Regular dental visits and good oral hygiene are important for individuals with diabetes.
Hematologic disorders and periodontitis
- Acquired neutropenia is a hematologic disorder associated with periodontitis.
- Leukemia is another hematologic disorder that can manifest as periodontitis.
- Coordination with a patient's physician is crucial for planning periodontal treatment in cases of hematologic disorders.
- Periodontal therapy should be avoided during periods of exacerbation of the malignancy or active phases of chemotherapy.
- Antimicrobial therapy may be considered when urgent treatment is required and granulocyte counts are low.
Coronary heart diseases and periodontitis
- There is an epidemiological association between periodontitis and coronary heart diseases.
- A causative connection between the two has not been proven yet.
- Periodontal diseases may contribute to the development or progression of coronary heart diseases.
- Proper management of periodontitis may help reduce the risk of coronary heart diseases.
- Regular dental visits and good oral hygiene are important for individuals at risk of coronary heart diseases.
Cerebrovascular diseases and erectile dysfunction
- There is an epidemiological association between periodontitis and cerebrovascular diseases.
- A causative connection between the two has not been proven yet.
- Periodontal diseases may contribute to the development or progression of cerebrovascular diseases.
- There is a potential association between chronic periodontal disease and erectile dysfunction.
- Further research is needed to understand the relationship between periodontitis and erectile dysfunction.
Periodontitis as a manifestation of systemic diseases is one of the seven categories of periodontitis as defined by the American Academy of Periodontology 1999 classification system and is one of the three classifications of periodontal diseases and conditions within the 2017 classification. At least 16 systemic diseases have been linked to periodontitis. These systemic diseases are associated with periodontal disease because they generally contribute to either a decreased host resistance to infections or dysfunction in the connective tissue of the gums, increasing patient susceptibility to inflammation-induced destruction.
These secondary periodontal inflammations should not be confused by other conditions in which an epidemiological association with periodontitis was revealed, but no causative connection was proved yet. Such conditions are coronary heart diseases, cerebrovascular diseases and erectile dysfunction.