Periodontal disease and Rheumatoid Arthritis – A Review

Periodontal medicine defines a rapidly emerging branch of Periodontology focusing on establishing a strong relationship between periodontal health and systemic health. Periodontitis and rheumatoid arthritis are widely prevalent diseases and are characterized by tissue destruction due to chronic inflammation. Several prospective clinical trials have shown that individuals with rheumatoid arthritis are more likely to experience moderate to severe periodontal disease compared to their healthy counterparts. There are growing evidences that the two diseases share many pathological features. This review elaborates the common pathologic mechanisms of these two chronic conditions.