Periodontal Inflammation as a Driver of Systemic Disease
December 20 @ 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm EST
While inflammation is an essential component of the body’s immune response, chronic or excessive inflammation can be a driver of disease by promoting tissue damage, impairing organ function, and creating an environment that is conducive to disease. This continuing education course is designed to provide dental clinicians with a comprehensive understanding of the intricate relationship between periodontal inflammation and systemic diseases. Recent research has illuminated the profound impact of oral health on overall health, establishing a crucial link between periodontal disease and various systemic conditions. This course will delve into the mechanisms underlying this connection, exploring the bidirectional pathways that contribute to both oral and systemic well-being. Participants will gain insights into the latest evidence, diagnostic tools, and treatment modalities aimed at managing periodontal inflammation to improve not only oral health but also overall systemic health.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
- Describe the inflammatory process as a natural response of the body’s immune system
- Contrast the natural inflammatory response to the effects of chronic or excessive inflammation, and how this may contribute to disease development and/or its progression
- Summarize the mechanism by which periodontal inflammation is a driver of systemic disease
- List examples of systemic disease thought to be driven by periodontal inflammation
