Apical periodontitis as the index of localized oral infection and carotid artery calcification among adults

INTRODUCTION: This study aim to investigate the relationships between the severity of periodontal disease , tooth status on carotid artery calcification. METHODS: Based on a cross-sectional study, a total of 2106 dental panoramic graphs (PR)s was selected from National Taiwan University Hospital from sept.15th 2011 to sept.15th 2012. Dental panoramic radiographs (PR) were used to exam the alveolar bone loss , Tooth loss , and apical peritonitis ,Decayed, Missing, And Filled Teeth (DMF index), were used to define the severity of periodontal disease. RESULTS:IN examine paranoiac radiography, the Moderate degree of Alveolar Bone Loss compare with slight degree’s had carotid artery calcification, The Odds Raito is about 0.48 (95% CI 0.27 to 0.85), the Severe degree compare with slightly degree had crotid artery calcification ,the Odds Raito is 0.50 (95% CI 0.15 ~ 1.63) P value = 0.039. CONCLUSIONS: In NTUH patients, with oral infection (with slightly Alveolar Bone Loss ,Tooth loss and apical peritonitis ) had high risk presenting carotid artery calcification in examine PR.