Association between periodontal disease and breast cancer: systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective: To evaluate the possible association between periodontal disease and breast cancer in women. Methods: This is a systematic literature review combined with a meta-analysis. Five databases were searched, relevant published studies were retrieved and selected. The articles were evaluated and subsequently synthesized using the PRISMA methodology. Odds Ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated to evaluate the association between PD and the risk of breast cancer. The articles selected for meta-analysis were separated into two groups, as follows: (a) studies that did not present a clinical dental examination; (b) studies that presented a clinical dental examination. Results: In studies that did not include a clinical dental examination, it was found that women without periodontal disease had a 0.85-fold reduced risk of developing breast cancer, while studies that included a clinical dental assessment suggested that women without PD have a 0.50-fold reduced risk of developing breast cancer. Final considerations: Studies that clinically evaluated PD through dental parameters showed a greater decrease in the number of patients with breast cancer and periodontal disease.