Measuring impact of periodontal care in stroke prevention

Periodontal health interventions may help reduce the risk of ischemic stroke.

In a systematic review and meta-analysis published in the International Journal of Dental Hygiene, investigators used the MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, LILACS, Web of Science and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases to identify seven clinical trials and observational studies focused on the effects of periodontal health interventions on the first incidence of ischemic stroke among nearly 2 million individuals.

The investigators discovered that the participants who underwent periodontal health interventions — particularly tooth scaling — were less likely to experience ischemic stroke. As a result of the findings, the investigators highlighted the potential of periodontal treatment to reduce the risk of stroke.

Nonetheless, because of variations in how periodontal health interventions were reported, clinicians should personalize care and refrain from intensive periodontal treatment alone in high-risk patients.

Read more: International Journal of Dental Hygiene

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