Periodontal disease and its systemic associated diseases

Abstract

Inflammatory processes can underlie the etiology of several pathological conditions ranging from metabolic to infectious diseases. Periodontitis, a chronic oral infectious disease, appears to occur as a result of a dysregulated host immune response elicited by subgingival microorganisms occurring in the dental biofilm. Whereas the activity of periodontal pathogens is required, their presence is not sufficient to account for the initiation and progression of periodontal disease. Thus, the combination of the bacterial-elicited insults and the poorly regulated host immune response causes deleterious effects on dentition supporting structures including the periodontal ligament, alveolar bone, and gingival tissues. Furthermore, emerging evidence suggests that periodontal disease can impact on host susceptibility for acquiring other diseases.