• David Herrera, Mariano Sanz, Lior Shapira, Carlos Brotons, Iain Chapple, Thomas Frese, Filippo Graziani, HobbsF D RichardFDROxford Primary Care, Radcliffe Primary Care Building, ROQ, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK., Olivier Huck, Eva Hummers, Søren Jepsen, Oleg Kravtchenko, Phoebus Madianos, Ana Molina, Mehmet Ungan, Josep Vilaseca, Adam Windak, and Shlomo Vinker.
• ETEP (Etiology and Therapy of Periodontal and Peri-implant Diseases) Research Group, University Complutense of Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
• Eur J Gen Pract. 2024 Dec 1; 30 (1): 23201202320120.

BackgroundPeriodontitis is a chronic inflammatory non-communicable disease (NCD) characterised by the destruction of the tooth-supporting apparatus (periodontium), including alveolar bone, the presence of periodontal pockets, and bleeding on probing.ObjectivesTo outline, for family doctors, the implications of the association between periodontal and systemic diseases; to explore the role of family doctors in managing periodontitis as an ubiquitous non-communicable disease (NCD).MethodsThe consensus reports of previous focused collaborative workshops between WONCA Europe and the European Federation of Periodontology (using previously undertaken systematic reviews), and a specifically commissioned systematic review formed the technical papers to underpin discussions. Working groups prepared proposals independently, and the proposals were subsequently discussed and approved at plenary meetings.ResultsPeriodontitis is independently associated with cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, obstructive sleep apnoea, and COVID-19 complications. Treatment of periodontitis has been associated with improvements in systemic health outcomes. The article also presents evidence gaps. Oral health care professionals (OHPs) and family doctors should collaborate in managing these conditions, including implementing strategies for early case detection of periodontitis in primary medical care centres and of systemic NCDs in oral/dental care settings. There is a need to raise awareness of periodontal diseases, their consequences, and the associated risk factors amongst family doctors.ConclusionCloser collaboration between OHPs and family doctors is important in the early case detection and management of NCDs like cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, and respiratory diseases. Strategies for early case detection/prevention of NCDs, including periodontitis, should be developed for family doctors, other health professionals (OHPs), and healthcare funders. Evidence-based information on the reported associations between periodontitis and other NCDs should be made available to family doctors, OHPs, healthcare funders, patients, and the general population.

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