Infection or Inflammation: The Link Between Periodontal Disease and Systemic Disease

There is increasing evidence that chronic infections are associated with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). These infections include Helicobacter pylori, Chlamydia pneumoniae, cytomegalovirus, and, more recently, periodontopathic bacteria such as Porphyromonas gingivalis. Although a large number of potential mechanisms have been postulated, the mechanism by which these infections associate with CVDs is still unclear. A number of hypotheses nevertheless exist, ABSTRACT