SILVA, Francisco Wanderley Garcia de Paula e et al. Apical periodontitis: systemic repercussions?. Odontol. Clín.-Cient. (Online) []. 2010, 9, 4, pp. 299-302. ISSN 1677-3888.

The relationship between apical periodontitis and general health is a controversial subject in medical and dental field. Several papers have suggested that chronic periapical inflammation may lead to cardiovascular events, respiratory diseases, diabetes, osteoporosis, uveitis, intracranial abscess, mediastinitis, and bacterial endocarditis. These alterations can occur due to dissemination throughout anatomic planes , blood stream bacterial spread, or due to host response against products and by-products from microorganisms. However these pieces of evidence are based on case reports and determination of the mechanisms by which bacteria present in the apical biofilm can reach other parts of the body and elicit systemic disturbances should shed light on this theory.

: apical periodontitis; systemic disturbances.