In our inaugural issue I would like to share some recent research correlating medicine with dentistry. There have been numerous medical and dental publications relating periodontal and coronary artery diseases (CAD) also known as myocardial infarction or heart attack. 

Dr. Efthymios Deliargyris, cardiologist and member of the Center for Oral and Systemic Diseases at U. of North Carolina at Chapel Hill presented these findings at a news conference at the annual American Heart Association in New Orleans in 2000.  Further studies at UNC-CH and elsewhere have linked patients with periodontal disease to an increased risk of heart attacks.  Genco, three years earlier, found the risk of heart attack was 2.7 times higher in individuals with periodontal disease versus those without.

According to a more recent article in Dentistry Today, Feb. 2003 there is now "significant interest regarding the role of viral and bacterial infections and their byproducts (endotoxins) as risk factors for CAD".  These endotoxins cause an inflammatory response which seems to be common to both conditions. Suffice to say there is ongoing research and it is presently premature to claim periodontal therapy will prevent or reduce the risk of CAD. However, we obviously encourage preventive dentistry for a variety of reasons, this perhaps being one of them. 

In keeping with this theme, I�ll update next month the latest research in home care via unique powered toothbrushes.

I believe this and future subjects will prove to be of value and interest. Please feel free to forward this or future topics to others who may benefit from them.

Best wishes until next month,