Author: Papapanou PN, Trevisan M
Source: American Dental Association
Year: 2012
Comment:
Abstract / Excerpt:
Recent scientific statement by the American Heart Association (AHA) titled “Periodontal Disease and Atherosclerotic Vascular Disease: Does the Evidence Support an Independent Association?”1 has stimulated a wave of media attention on this important subject. Unfortunately, a misleading press release that has since been corrected and re-issued resulted in dissemination of inaccurate information in the print and electronic media and has generated more confusion about a topic that needed clarity. For this reason, it is a good time to take a closer look at what we have learned from a wide body of literature in which researchers have examined the association between periodontitis and atherosclerotic vascular disease (AVD); what gaps in knowledge must be addressed in further research; what we, as health care professionals, can and should tell our patients today about this important topic.
Citation: Papapanou PN, Trevisan M. Periodontitis and atherosclerotic vascular disease: What we know and why it is important. The Journal of the American Dental Association. 2012;143(8):826-8.