Periodontal Medicine: A Narrative Review on Linking Periodontal and Systemic Health Through Interprofessional Care

Periodontal medicine examines relationships between periodontal and systemic health and their implications for patient care.This narrative review considers proposed biological pathways and evidence relating periodontitis to diabetes, cardiovascular disease, adverse pregnancy outcomes, respiratory diseases, chronic kidney disease, and cognitive impairment.Diabetes and periodontitis have a recognized bidirectional relationship, and evidence from randomized trials indicates that periodontal treatment can modestly improve glycemic control in people with diabetes and periodontitis.Evidence linking periodontitis with several other systemic conditions is largely observational and should not be interpreted as proof of causation.Whether periodontal treatment prevents cardiovascular events, adverse pregnancy outcomes, or other systemic clinical outcomes remains uncertain.Periodontal assessment and treatment are important for controlling oral inflammation and preserving oral function.Communication, patient education, and appropriate referrals between dental and medical professionals can support coordinated care.Further welldesigned studies are needed to clarify causal pathways and evaluate clinically important systemic outcomes.