Research Corner - Oral frailty indicators and cardio- and cerebrovascular diseases in older age: A systematic review
Dr Kitty Guo has kindly written a precis of a recently published article.
Oral frailty indicators and cardio- and cerebrovascular diseases in older age: A systematic review
This review explores oral frailty and the impact of tooth loss and periodontal disease on cardio and cerebrovascular diseases. They describe the concept of the oral frailty phenotype as gradual loss of oral function driven by impairments including loss of teeth and poor oral hygiene, resulting in a decline in cognitive and physical functions, identifying that periodontal disease and tooth loss are the most frequent oral frailty indicators identified in the studies.
We know more and more about the links between periodontal health and systemic health, and though we do not and will never know everything, it is clear that retaining teeth and maintaining good oral health has multiple significant benefits to general health and wellbeing. Are all of our patients aware of the potential impact an extraction today could have on their health decades into the future?