Overview of risk factors for periodontal disease and implications for diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Recent studies have shown that there is a definite relationship between diseases of the oral cavity, especially periodontal infections, and systematic diseases. Periodontal disease may also produce systemic effects in the body, including an association with cardiovascular disease. This article discusses the risk factors for periodontal disease, the pathogenesis and risk factors for cardiovascular disease, the relationship between periodontal infection and cardiovascular disease, and the need for future studies to further define the relationship between periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease.