Does oral hygiene trigger carotid artery intima-media thickness?
Ihsan Sami Uyar1, Veysel Sahin, Mehmet Besir Akpinar
1Cardiovascular Surgery Department, Sifa University, Izmir, Turkey.
The Heart Surgery Forum
|August 21, 2013
Summary
Poor oral hygiene and tooth loss are linked to increased carotid artery intima-media thickness, a marker for atherosclerosis progression. This suggests oral health impacts cardiovascular health.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Health
- Periodontology
- Diagnostic Imaging
Background:
- Subclinical atherosclerosis, a precursor to cardiovascular events, can be predicted by carotid artery intima-media thickness.
- Oral hygiene status is increasingly recognized as a potential contributing factor to systemic health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between poor oral hygiene and carotid artery intima-media thickness.
- To determine if oral health metrics predict subclinical atherosclerotic changes.
Main Methods:
- 108 patients without prior atherosclerotic disease underwent periodontal examinations and carotid artery B-mode ultrasonography.
- Oral hygiene was assessed using the Decayed, Missing, Filled Teeth (DMFT) index and the Silness-Loe plaque index (SLI).
- Patients were categorized into two groups based on DMFT and SLI scores to compare intima-media thickness.
Main Results:
- A significant association was found between dental status, oral hygiene, and carotid artery intima-media thickness.
- Higher DMFT and SLI scores correlated with increased intima-media thickness, indicating poorer oral health is linked to thicker carotid arteries.
Conclusions:
- Chronic poor oral hygiene and tooth loss are associated with subclinical atherosclerotic changes in the carotid arteries.
- These oral health indicators may predict the future progression of atherosclerosis, highlighting the oral-systemic health connection.
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