The Effects of Periodontal Treatment on Atherosclerosis : A Systematic Review

Abstract: Aim: The aim of the study was to systematically review the evidence from clinical intervention trials evaluating the effect of periodontal treatment (PT) on surrogate markers on individuals diagnosed with periodontal disease (PD) and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ACVD). The systematic review was based on quantitative literature. Method: A electronic search for relevant articles published between October 2012- October 2022 was carried out in the following databases: PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science. Results: The systematic search identified 686 articles, after the title and abstract screening 14 articles were read in full-text, 7 articles underwent risk of bias assessment, 1 was excluded due to high risk of bias and 6 articles were ultimately included. The results found that PT led to decreased levels of inflammatory biomarkers and surrogate markers of ACVD, improved periodontal parameters and endothelial function, and reduced levels of periodontopathogens. Conclusion: The findings indicate that PT can potentially benefit atherosclerosis by managing and improving its risk factors. As demonstrated by the small sample size further research is needed to fully determine the effects of PT on atherosclerosis.