Abstract
Purpose: Recently, much attention has been paid to the involvement of sub-clinical inflammation in the pathogenesis of coronary heart disease as well as type 2 diabetes. Chronic periodontitis is one such sub-clinical inflammation. The close relationship between periodontal inflammation and type 2 diabetes as well as coronary heart disease is summarized.
Study selection: The relations were discussed based on two studies, one on the effect of periodontal treatment on the metabolic control of diabetes, the other on the association between the degree of periodontal disease and carotid atherosclerosis.
Results: Periodontal treatment appeared to have a beneficial effect on the metabolic control of diabetes. Additionally, periodontal disease seemed to be associated with carotid atherosclerosis.
Conclusions: Appropriate periodontal treatment reduces the risk of developing and worsening metabolic syndrome. Thus, it is important to establish effective treatment strategies based on the evidence accumulated so far.
