Why patients with cardiovascular risk should go to dentist: is there sufficient evidence of influence of periodontal therapy on cardiovascular disease?

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a common cause of death, representing 29% of the mortality all over the word. More than 70 million Americans have been diagnosed with various forms of CVD, including high blood pressure, coronary artery disease (acute myocardial infarction and angina pectoris), disorders of peripheral arteries. There is strong evidence that periodontal disease (PD) is associated with an increased risk of CVD. In addition, many patients with CVD are also affected by PD, which can be mild or severe. The aim of this manuscript is to investigate the effects of periodontal therapy on the management of CVD. Thirty-four randomised controlled trials and reviews were included in this manuscript to test the effects of different periodontal therapies for patients with CVD. In conclusion, we may affirm that there is some lack of knowledge on the relationship between PD and CVD, however there is sufficient evidence to justify a periodontal treatment to prevent CVD; in fact, PD is very prevalent in the middle-aged population and can have a significant impact on the cardiovascular function.