Periodontology in the age of inflammation: a changing landscape.

It has been known for some time that relationships exist between periodontal disease and other medical conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, kidney disease, and rheumatoid arthritis. Recent research is demonstrating that periodontal disease is the result of host inflammatory reaction to bacterial infection. This conceptual paradigm shift has lead to renewed need to educate patients about the importance of oral health and to collaborations with medical colleagues through consensus conferences where the results of emerging research are translated into practice guidelines.