Oral Health: A Guide for Your Health as a Periodontist’s Point of View

Abstract

Dental caries and Periodontitis are the most commonly reported dental diseases. These can lead to loss of tooth structure and compromising the functions of teeth like mastication and thus affecting the overall health. Periodontitis is inflammation of periodontium resulting in loss of periodontal ligament attachment, bone destruction, tooth mobility and ultimately tooth loss. This is caused by the microorganisms present in the oral biofilm. One cubic millimeter of dental plaque contains about 100 million bacteria. At present almost more than 500-600 different varieties of bacteria have been identified in the oral cavity. Key perio-pathogens are the group of perio-pathogens that are responsible for the commencement and progression of periodontal disease as well as failed periodontal therapy. A. actinomycetemcomitans, Tannerella forsythia and Porphyromonas gingivalis are the established key-pathogens in the various periodontal diseases. Through blood stream, these micro-organisms can be transported to various organs or system in the human body and causing and affecting overall health negatively. Endotoxins produced by these key perio-pathogens are associated with the non-oral diseases. It is a proven fact that periodontal health plays an important role in general health status in mankind. Periodontal pathogens can affect the systemic diseases and conditions adversely and can lead to unfavourable outcomes. Patients with cardiovascular diseases showed pathogens having same DNA as periodontal pathogens. In periodontitis patients, inflammatory mediators produced can trigger the hyperglycaemia. In pregnant women, premature birth and low birth weight is found linked with poor periodontal health. This paper highlights the role of periodontal health in various systemic diseases and conditions for better treatment planning and prevention of the adverse outcomes.