News and Views

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The vital link between oral and systemic health

Thursday, December 26, 2024 | Posted in GEHA Connection Dental Network Provider Newsletter

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This month we feature an article from Kapila, Y. (2021) Oral health’s inextricable connection to systemic health: Special populations bring to bear multimodal relationships and factors connecting periodontal disease to systemic diseases and conditions - PMC (nih.gov). Please see the link above for the full article in PubMed to learn more.

The Interconnected World of Oral and Systemic Health

The landscape of dentistry is evolving rapidly as emerging research continues to highlight the profound connections between periodontal health and systemic health. This blog post delves into the intricate relationships that underscore the importance of maintaining oral health for overall well-being.

The Critical Link Between Oral and Systemic Health

Recent studies, including population, clinical and in vitro animal research, emphasize the critical role oral health plays in systemic health. Oral diseases, particularly periodontal disease, are not isolated conditions but are deeply intertwined with various systemic health issues. This connection is especially evident in special populations where multimodal relationships between oral and systemic health come to light.

Periodontal Disease and Systemic Conditions

Periodontal disease has been linked to a myriad of systemic conditions, including:

• Adverse pregnancy outcomes
• Alzheimer’s disease
• Cancer
• Cardiovascular disease
• Diabetes
• Eating disorders
• Liver disease
• Mental health conditions
• Metabolic syndrome
• Obesity
• Osteoporosis
• Respiratory disease
• Rheumatoid arthritis

These associations highlight the bidirectional nature of the relationship, where oral health can influence systemic health and vice versa. The potential for multiple comorbidities and complex interactions (multimodal relationships) further underscores the importance of comprehensive oral care.

Mechanisms Connecting Oral and Systemic Health

Several factors mediate the connection between oral and systemic health, including:

• Genetic factors (e.g., gene polymorphisms)
• Environmental factors (e.g., stress, smoking, high-fat diets, consumption of highly processed foods)
• Medications
• Microbial dysbiosis and bacteremias/viremias/microbemias
• Altered host immune response

In susceptible individuals, these predisposing and precipitating factors can trigger the onset of both periodontal and systemic diseases.

Advances in Understanding the Oral Microbiome

High-throughput sequencing technologies have revolutionized our understanding of the oral microbiome. These technologies have enabled better characterization of oral microbial dysbiosis, including identifying periodontal pathogens and shifts in the oral virome composition during disease. Both eukaryotic and prokaryotic viruses within subgingival plaque and periodontal tissues have been shown to affect periodontal inflammation, further illustrating the complex interplay between oral and systemic health.

Clinical Relevance

As the field of dentistry continues to develop, it is crucial for dental professionals to stay informed about the connection between oral health and systemic health. By understanding and addressing these connections, dentists can play a pivotal role in improving their patients’ overall health and well-being. Engagement in oral health actions (oral hygiene and maintaining periodontal health) is especially important for individuals living with systemic conditions.

Learn more:

Oral health’s inextricable connection to systemic health: Special populations bring to bear multimodal relationships and factors periodontal disease to systemic diseases and conditions - PMC (nih.gov)

Kapila YL. Oral health's inextricable connection to systemic health: Special populations bring to bear multimodal relationships and factors connecting periodontal disease to systemic diseases and conditions. Periodontol 2000. 2021;87(1):11-16. doi:10.1111/prd.12398

The information contained herein is for information and educational purposes only. This information is not a substitute for professional medical advice.