Relationship Between Oral Health and Systemic Disease - American ...

contentsAbstract . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1The InflammatoryProcess . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1Inflammation &Oral Health. . . . . . . . . . . 2The Oral-SystemicRelationship . . . . . . . . . . 3Translating Scienceto Practice . . . . . . . . . . . 5Conclusion. . . . . . . . . . . 6A Case in Point . . . . . . . 7AbstractSince the mid 1990s, both the scientific community and thepublic have been inundated with articles addressing the associationbetween systemic diseases and oral health. It seems that almostmonthly there is an article in a fashion magazine reminding thepublic that tooth brushing and flossing can save their life. Somearticles point to the notion thatoral infection and bacteria maybe linked to heart attack andstroke. Others dispel the association,indicating that there is notenough research to determineany relationship between thetwo. The questions that havebeen raised focusing on the relationshipbetween periodontaldiseases and systemic conditionsnow extend beyond cardiovasculardisease and include diabetes,respiratory disease and adversepregnancy outcomes. ResearchResearch hasdemonstrated that theassociation between oralinflammation andsystemic inflammationmay be the key tounderstanding thedeleterious effects onmultiple organ systems.has demonstrated that the association between oral inflammationand systemic inflammation may be the key to understanding thedeleterious effects on multiple organ systems. However, is the relationshipso complex that it is like trying to crack the DaVinciCode, or can health care professionals and the public understandthe role of inflammation in oral and systemic health?The purpose of this article is to review how the inflammatoryprocess functions in the human body. The role of inflammation inoral and systemic health will be discussed. Translating this informationinto practical application for dental hygiene professionals willbe addressed so that both inquiring patients and astute clinicianswill capitalize on the opportunities for improving total health.The Inflammatory ProcessReferences. . . . . . . . . . . 8JoAnn R. Gurenlian, RDH, PhD, is the owner ofGurenlian & Associates. She provides consultingand continuing education programs for healthcare providers. She has experience in general,periodontic, pediatric and orthodontic practices,and works part-time in a medical practice.She is an internationally recognized speakeron the topics of oral pathology, oral medicine,diabetes, and women's health. Dr.Gurenlian volunteers with local cancer, healthand political organizations.Clinical cover image courtesy of Dr. Randy Valentine,www.gumsbleeding.com.What is inflammation? Isn’t this the process that is supposedto be good for our bodies? How can it now be something that causesharm to so many different aspects of the body? As we learn moreabout the biological mechanisms of inflammation, it becomes clearthat this process is more complicated than was once thought.Inflammation is the body’s response to cellular injury. Despitethe fact that the press has emphasized the harmful effects of inflammation,the fact remains that without this process, our bodiescould not survive. Inflammation represents a protective responsedesigned to rid the body of the initial cause of cell injury and theconsequences of that injury. Cell injury may occur due to trauma,genetic defects, physical and chemical agents, tissue necrosis, foreignbodies, immune reactions and infections.Inflammation is a local reactive change that involves therelease of antibacterial agents from nearby cells that defend the hostagainst infection. It also facilitates early tissue healing and repair. Itcontains—or “walls off”—the infectious or injurious agent andserves as a defense mechanism that the body can use to restore itselfto a normal morphological form and function.special supplemental issue—april 2006—access 1