Relationship between periodontal disease and subclinical atherosclerosis: the Dong-gu study

We assessed the association of periodontal disease and number of missing teeth with subclinical atherosclerosis in an adult Korean population.

Cross-sectional data from 5404 individuals aged ≥50 years were obtained from the 2008-2010 Dong-gu study. Periodontal examinations were conducted to determine the number of missing teeth, pocket depth (PD), clinical attachment loss (CAL), and bleeding on probing (BOP). The percentages of sites with PD ≥ 4 mm (PD 4%), CAL ≥ 4 mm (CAL 4%), and BOP (BOP%) were recorded for each participant. B-mode ultrasound was performed to determine common carotid artery intima-media thickness (CCA IMT) and the presence of carotid plaques. Multivariate linear regression models were used to assess the associations between periodontal parameters and CCA IMT and carotid plaque.

Number of missing teeth was associated with increased CCA IMT, and BOP% was associated with increased CCA IMT in females only. This association was robust in never smokers.

The number of missing teeth was associated with CCA IMT, and BOP% was associated with CCA IMT in females only. These associations were robust in never smokers. Our results suggest that tooth loss due to oral disease may play a role in subclinical carotid atherosclerosis.