Tobacco smoking has widespread systemic effects, many of which may provide mechanisms for the increased susceptibility to periodontitis and the poorer response to treatment.

These results support the hypothesis that in some patients, cross-reactivity of the immune response to bacterial HSPs including those of periodontal pathogens, with arterial endothelial cells expressing hHSP60 may be a possible mechanism for the association between atherosclerosis and periodontal infection.

No abstract

An appreciation of dental plaque and the host response provides an essential basis from which to understand the disease process and treatment rationale. This information will help the reader to understand not only the way that plaque may have an impact on oral tissues but also why regular effective cleaning may improve periodontal health and why some individuals appear to have a greater susceptibility to periodontitis than others, either intrinsically or in relation to various systemic factors.