Periodontitis, Blood Pressure, and the Risk and Control of Arterial Hypertension: Epidemiological, Clinical, and Pathophysiological Aspects—Review of the Literature and Clinical Trials

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Arterial hypertension is an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease. In the world, about 45% of people suffer from arterial hypertension, while good blood pressure control is achieved by only approximately 50% of all hypertensive patients treated. The reason for the high prevalence of arterial hypertension and its poor control is low knowledge of hypertensinogenic factors. One such factor is periodontitis, which is a disease of social importance. RECENT FINDINGS: It has been shown that the occurrence of periodontitis leads to an increase in blood pressure, increasing the risk of arterial hypertension. Periodontitis can also lead to ineffectiveness of antihypertensive treatment. Some interventional studies have shown that treatment of periodontitis reduced blood pressure in patients with arterial hypertension. The pathogenesis of arterial hypertension in periodontitis is complex and concerns mainly the impairment of the vasodilatation properties of the endothelium. SUMMARY: Hygiene and periodontitis treatment should be a method of preventing arterial hypertension and a method of increasing the effectiveness of antihypertensive treatment.