Gabriela Caracostea

By Gabriela Valentina Caracostea, Alexandru Bucur, Iulia Cristina Micu, Andrada Soanca, Andreea Ciurea, Adriana Objelean, Ada Gabriela Delean, Corina Violeta Ionescu, Radu Marcel Chisnoiu, Marius Negucioiu, Mircea Viorel Ciurea, Dragos Alexandru Termure and Alexandra Roman

Periodontal medicine is a broad term commonly used to define the relationship between periodontitis and systemic health. Periodontitis is a highly prevalent, chronic multifactorial infectious disease, induced by the dysbiotic biofilm that triggers a persistent systemic inflammation and recurrent bacteremia. There is a growing body of scientific evidence that suggests the potential implication of periodontitis in the causation and progression of various systemic disease and conditions, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, pulmonary disease, adverse pregnancy outcomes and cancer. Some studies consider periodontitis as an independent risk factor for preterm birth, growth restriction, low birth-weight and pre-eclampsia. However not all studies support the association. Despite sparse scientific data, some studies indicate that individuals with periodontitis are at increased risk for cancer development, due to the increased inflammatory burden sustained by the presence of periodontal pathogens. This chapter emphasis the relationship between periodontitis and adverse pregnancy outcomes and the underlying mechanisms that link peridontitis to oral carcinogenesis.

Part of the book: Periodontology