PERİODONTİTİS; KARDİYOVASKÜLER HASTALIKLAR İÇİN BİR RİSK FAKTÖRÜ MÜDÜR? PERIODONTITIS; IS IT A RISK FACTOR FOR CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES?

SUMMARY An associaton between cardiovascular disease and periodontitis has been found in epidemilogcal studies. Individuals with periodontitis have been reported to have a significantly increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Systemic bacterial exposure from periodontitis and pe riodontal pathogens have been proposed as the biologically pertinent risk factor. Periodontitis may contribute to cardiovascular disease in sus ceptible subjects. Properly powered longitudinal case-control studies are needed to identify how periodontitis may have an impact on cardiovascular diseases.