PERIODONTAL DISEASE AND INFLAMMATION: RETHINKING HOW WE MANAGE PATIENTS
Periodontal disease is one the most common chronic conditions affecting patients and populations. Accordingly, the disease is initiated by etiologic infectious agents (bacteria) that stimulate both local and systemic inflammatory responses.
These inflammatory responses culminate in the local tissue destruction characteristic of periodontitis and may contribute to poorer health systemic outcomes as noted in human observational studies. Long-term control of the infectious and inflammatory components of the disease remains the principal goal of therapy for patients at risk.
Participants will learn:
- the current model of infection and inflammation central to the pathogenesis of periodontal disease;
- the evidence on mechanical as well as adjunctive pharmacological (antimicrobial and host modulatory) therapies for periodontally diseased patients;
- the emerging data that periodontal disease interventions may improve biomarkers associated with systemic diseases like cardiovascular disease and diabetes.