Complications of Periodontal Disease

Periodontal disease in its final outcome results in tooth loss, which occurs due to the destruction of the bone as well as the connective tissue, which act as a supportive element  for teeth.  In this article we are going to see the various complications of periodontal disease.

Bad breath is the most common problem that occurs due to the periodontal disease.  Bacteria and plaque buildup are the major contributors to bad breath in this disease process.

The individuals who suffer from heart disease or stroke are predisposed to higher risk of periodontal disease.  There is a high risk for development of periodontal disease in patients suffering from heart disease.  The conditions such as acute coronary syndrome, hypertension and high cholesterol are also linked with periodontal disease.

A study was conducted in patients who had suffered from heart attacks and it was found that in about 85% individuals there was evidence of periodontal disease.  Those individuals who were suffering from hypertension were found to have damage associated to the left side of the heart.

Researchers have conducted studies that suggest that an inflammatory response triggered by periodontal disease causes injury to the arteries.  They further elaborated that this inflammatory response is triggered by the immune system, which causes damage to the body tissues.

The individuals who are suffering from heart disease and periodontal disease both have high levels of CRP, C-reactive protein, which is an inflammatory marker.  This results in the immune response, which results in the injuries to the blood vessels.

There are evidences to suggest that a bacteria, P. gingivalis, is directly responsible for vascular damage.

There is new clinical evidence to suggest that periodontal disease can either exacerbate diabetes and can also directly cause diabetes by destroying the pancreatic cells responsible for the production of insulin.  The bacteria causing periodontal disease when enters into the blood stream causes the production of cytokines, which results in the destruction of cells responsible for producing insulin.

In pregnant women, the periodontal disease increases the risks of low birth weight infants or premature delivery.

Bacteria causing periodontal disease when invades the upper respiratory tract causes respiratory infections, which seeps down into the lungs and causes damage of lung tissue and causes respiratory problems such as emphysema.