Abstract: Periodontitis is a common inflammatory disease of infectious origins that often evolves into a chronic condition. Aside from its importance as a stomatologic ailment, chronic periodontitis has gained relevance since it has been shown that it can develop into a systemic condition characterized by unresolved hyper-inflammation, disruption of the innate and adaptive immune system, dysbiosis of the oral, gut and other location's microbiota and other system-wide alterations that may cause, coexist or aggravate other health issues associated to elevated morbi-mortality. The relationships between the infectious, immune, inflammatory, and systemic features of periodontitis and its many related diseases are far from being fully understood and are indeed still debated. However, to date, a large body of evidence on the different biological, clinical, and policy-enabling sources of information, is available. The aim of the present work is to summarize many of these sources of information and contextualize them under a systemic inflammation framework that may set the basis to an integral vision, useful for basic, clinical, and therapeutic goals.

It is a chronic inflammatory condition affecting the supporting structures of teeth, has gained recognition beyond its oral health implications. An increasing body of research indicates a significant association between periodontitis and several systemic diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, respiratory conditions, adverse pregnancy outcomes, and rheumatoid arthritis. This review summarizes current evidence on the links between periodontitis and systemic health, emphasizing potential biological mechanisms, clinical implications, and directions for future research.