Further studies of possible mechanisms linking periodontal infections to systemic disorders, as well as intervention studies, are needed to define the role of periodontal disease in systemic disease. In a study of more than 9,700 subjects published in the British Medical Journal, researchers found that men under 50 with periodontal diseases were 70 per cent more likely to have coronary heart disease. Further studies have suggested that this higher incidence of heart disease may be linked to bacteria associated with periodontitis. A recent study by researchers at Temple University , Philadelphia, showed that bacteria found in dental plaque caused clotting within minutes after contact with human blood. In addition, a study at SUNY at Buffalo found evidence for bacteria common in gum disease in fatty plaques taken from human carotid arteries.
Periodontal disease is believed to be the most common infectious disease after the common cold.
It begins as a painless infection of the gums, caused by a buildup of bacteria known as dental plaque. As the disease progresses, the gums increasingly separate from the teeth to form pockets, allowing the continued accumulation of plaque below the gumline. Without treatment, the bacterial buildup and resulting inflammation destroys the soft tissue and bone that hold the teeth. Atrix Laboratories, Inc. is a drug delivery and product development company whose patented technologies provide drug delivery from minutes to months. Atrix develops medical, dental and veterinary products in-house and also partners with large pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to apply its proprietary technologies to new chemical entities or to extend the life cycle of existing products.