Root canal infection linked to heart disease

Root canal infection is a polymicrobial endodontic infection resulting in the destruction of tissue around the root of teeth.

The current concept is that oral inflammation has an exacerbating effect on cardiovascular disease, said John Liljestrand, a doctoral candidate at the university of Helsinki. He chose a patient with hypertension, dyalipidemia and diabetes for his study.

According to his study, the more inflammation the patient has around the root of their teeth, the more likely they are to have bacteria porphyomonas endodontalis. This bacteria has previously been linked cardio vascular diseases.

Bacteria porphyomonas endodontalis, around the infected tooth, is able to invade smooth muscle cells and vascular walls.

Further studies are required to explore the relationship between endodontic lesions (root canal lesions) and heart disease, including whether performing root canal treatment can minimise or mitigate cardiovascular risk.