European workshop in periodontal health and cardiovascular disease--scientific evidence on the association between periodontal and cardiovascular diseases: a review of the literature

In the last 10 years, a rising number of epidemiological investigations have studied the possible association between chronic oral infections and cardiovascular diseases (CVD). These studies were based on the hypothesis that periodontal diseases (PD), may confer an independent risk for CVD. There is, however, still controversy whether these associations are causal or whether there are common aetiological factors common to both diseases (residual confounding). The objective of this paper was to review the possible association between PD and CVD on both the epidemiological association and the possible preventive and treatment implications.