Endodontic variables and coronary heart disease

Abstract

This cross-sectional study was designed to explore a possible association between endodontic disease variables and coronary heart disease (CHD). Dental infections are hypothesized to be linked to atherosclerosis and could be a cause of vascular changes crucial for the development of CHD. Most studies have focused on periodontal disease. To our knowledge, no one has specifically studied endodontic variables as risk factors for the development of CHD. In 1992-93, a representative sample (n = 1056) of women in Göteborg, Sweden, aged between 38 and 84 years, took part in a combined dental and medical survey. The dependent variable was CHD, i.e. subjects with angina pectoris and/or a history of myocardial infarction (n = 106). The independent variables were number of root-filled teeth (RF), number of teeth with periapical radiolucencies (PA), tooth loss (TL), age, life situation, marital status, smoking, alcohol habits, body mass index, waist-hip ratio, serum cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations, hypertension and diabetes. The multivariate logistic regression analysis did not prove the endodontic variables to be predictive of CHD. Only age and tooth loss were significantly associated with CHD, with OR = 1.07 (CI = 1.03-1.12) and OR = 2.70 (CI = 1.49-4.87), respectively. The bivariate logistic regression analysis showed a positive significant association between subjects with RF = 2 and CHD, but for PA the bivariate analysis did not support an association with CHD. This cross-sectional study did not reveal a significant association between endodontically treated teeth and CHD nor between teeth with periapical disease and CHD.

Can a chronic dental infection be considered a cause of cardiovascular disease? A review of the literature

“…In a summary thesis from 2007 [58], Frisk mixed data from the above mentioned 2003 study [47] with the results of 2 epidemiological studies on apical periodontitis in the Swedish population [56,57]. The objectives of this thesis were to further clarify clinical and socioeconomic risk factors for apical periodontitis and to reconsider, in a larger population, the possible association between apical periodontitis and CHD.…”

“…The issue has been addressed only recently and has produced mixed results, with studies in favor of a positive correlation between apical periodontitis and coronary risk [40,59], and other negative [47,58] or inconclusive [55]. Unfortunately, the necessary scientific rigorousness was not always applied for a better understanding of the relationship between the presence of periapical lesions and CV risk.…”

“…In 2003, Frisk et al [47] published the first cross-sectional study that examined the possible association between various components of endodontic disease and CHD. A connection between dental infections, probable cause of vascular abnormalities, and the genesis of atherosclerosis was hypothesized.…”

Periodontal Diseases and Possible Future Cardiovascular Events, Are they Related? An Overview

“…A cross-sectional study by Frisk et al reported no such relation between dental infections and CVD; however, they studied females and evaluated endodontic variables and CHD and periodontal variables were not studied (38).…”

Factors Associated with Number of Present Teeth in Adults in Japanese Urban City

“…More recently, a number of studies have focused on tooth loss as a risk This paper was originally presented as a thesis by T. Kurahashi at the Graduate School of Tokyo Dental College. factor in general health conditions, such as cardiovascular disease and stroke 1,6,8,15,16,19,20,27,29,30,[35][36][37]51,59) , dementia 52) , diabetes mellitus 11,31,41,42,45,56,57) , hypertension 55) , and gastrointestinal cancer 1) . Taken together, this indicates the potential of number of PT as an indicator of oral and general health status which can be used for comparisons both domestically and internationally.…”