Interconnection of periodontal disease and comorbidities: Evidence, mechanisms, and implications

Periodontitis, a microbiome-driven inflammatory disease of the tooth-attachment apparatus, is epidemiologically linked with other disorders, including cardio-metabolic, cognitive neurodegenerative and autoimmune diseases, respiratory infections, and certain cancers. These associations may, in part, be causal, as suggested by interventional studies showing that local treatment of periodontitis reduces systemic inflammation and surrogate markers of comorbid diseases. The potential cause-and-effect connection between periodontitis and comorbidities is corroborated by studies in preclinical models of disease, which additionally provided mechanistic insights into these associations. This overview discusses recent advances in our understanding of the periodontitis-systemic disease connection, which may potentially lead to innovative therapeutic options to reduce the risk of periodontitis-linked comorbidities.

Automated summary

Periodontitis is linked with various other diseases, potentially with a causal relationship. Interventional studies and preclinical models support the connection between periodontitis and comorbidities, providing mechanistic insights. Advances in understanding the periodontitis-systemic disease connection may lead to innovative therapeutic options for reducing the risk of periodontitis-linked comorbidities.