Periodontists and Cardiologists Partner to
Improve Patient Health
We are pleased to announce that the
consensus paper on periodontitis and atherosclerotic
cardiovascular disease is now available online on
the ahead-of-print websites of both the
Journal of Periodontology
(JOP) and
The American Journal of
Cardiology (AJC).
This paper is a result of collaboration between
the Academy and the AJC. In January 2009,
five key leaders in periodontology and cardiology
were selected by their respective organizations to
review the pertinent evidence and develop clinical
recommendations on the management of patients with
periodontitis and atherosclerotic cardiovascular
disease. We strongly encourage you to read the
consensus paper and begin to implement the clinical
recommendations in your own practices. The paper
includes a number of references that you can consult
to enhance your understanding of cardiovascular
disease and risk. Some of this information may be
new to you and result in an expanded understanding
of your patients' health status.
Inflammation and Periodontal Disease
Our
collaboration with cardiologists was an outgrowth of
the Academy's strategic initiative based on the
concept of inflammation. As you may be aware, the
role of inflammation as a common factor in the
chronic diseases of aging has caused considerable
excitement in medical circles over the past few
years. Since periodontists are dentistry's experts
in managing inflammation, Academy leaders have
focused on inflammation as the basis for a new
paradigm of periodontal disease and treatment as
well as a bridge to other health professionals. We
encourage you to review the existing
inflammation resources
available to you as a member of the Academy. Also,
be sure to read David Cochran's
recent article
in the
Journal of the American
College of Dentists
for more information about the changing paradigm in
periodontology and the Academy's inflammation
initiative.
Getting the Word out about Heart Disease and
Periodontal Disease
The Academy
believes that the release of this paper provides a
unique opportunity to heighten consumer and
professional awareness of the relationship between
periodontal and cardiovascular diseases as well as
enhance the importance of periodontal health. This
month, the Academy will embark on a multifaceted
public relations and communications outreach
campaign to promote information on this topic. A
press release
has been distributed to local and national print,
online and broadcast media. Earlier today, JOP
Editor Ken Kornman was featured in a national media
radio tour, and conducted interviews with several
local and national news stations. Be sure to listen
to your radio and look for news coverage on this
exciting project. A separate
media alert
has been sent to dental trade publications such as
ADA News, Dentistry Today,
Dimensions of Dental Hygiene and AGD Impact
to inform the dental community about the publication
of the paper and to highlight suggested clinical
implications for dental professionals.
It is the
Academy's hope that this media outreach will provide
fertile ground for your outreach to the dentists,
hygienists and physicians in your community.
Print Version of the Consensus Paper Available in
July
The
consensus paper has been made available online today
and it will be printed simultaneously in the July
issues of the JOP and AJC. In
July, we will contact you again with template
letters and other resources for you to use in
communicating with your colleagues and patients,
including information about ordering reprints of the
consensus paper from
JOP
and AJC.
We are excited about the
consensus paper that is now available and the
opportunities it will provide you to offer a more
comprehensiive health service to your patients and
to reach out to the general dentists, hygienists and
physicians in your community. Stay tuned for e-grams
over the next several months as the Academy rolls
out additional resources and collateral materials to
complement the consensus paper and assist you in
partnering more effectively with your dental and
medical colleagues.
