AADR addresses value, shortcomings of AHA study

The American Association for Dental Research (AADR) has responded to the American Heart Association's (AHA) new literature review on the relationship between periodontal disease and heart disease (Circulation, April 18, 2012)

In a statement the organization called the review "extensive" and noted that it supported an association between periodontal disease and atherosclerotic vascular disease (ASVD) independent of known co-founders.

However, while the literature review helped to demonstrate an association, it failed to support a cause-effect relationship or that periodontal treatment might prevent ASVD or modify its outcome, the AADR.

The AADR said it was not surprised that the authors were unable to find demonstrable causality or a treatment effect in the literature given that there is a lack of long-term studies on the association between periodontal infection and cardiovascular disease or long-term periodontal treatment intervention studies on cardiovascular health.

One of the key benefits of the study was that it identified gaps in scientific understanding of the interaction of oral health and ASVD, the organization said.