Relevance. Chronic inflammatory diseases of the oral cavity, in particular periodontitis, have recently been considered not only as a local dental problem but also as a potential trigger of systemic pathology. Of particular interest is the link between periodontitis and cardiovascular diseases (CVD), which remain the leading cause of death worldwide. Objective – based on an analysis of available scientific data, to establish the role of periodontitis as an independent risk factor for the development of atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, and stroke, as well as to describe the main common mechanisms. Materials and methods. A systematic analysis of publications from PubMed, Scopus, and RSCI databases for the period 2015–2025 was conducted, including clinical studies, meta-analyses, and reviews on the relationship between periodontitis and CVD. Results. It has been shown that the presence of periodontitis increases the risk of coronary heart disease by an average of 25–35%, and the risk of cerebrovascular events by 20–30%. The main linking mechanisms are chronic systemic inflammation (elevated C-reactive protein, IL-6, TNF-α), bacteremia involving periodontal pathogens (Porphyromonas gingivalis, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans), endothelial dysfunction, and immune-mediated damage to the vascular wall. Conclusion. Periodontitis should be considered a modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular pathology, which requires interdisciplinary interaction between dentists and cardiologists for early prevention and comprehensive treatment.

periodontitis, cardiovascular diseases, atherosclerosis, systemic inflammation, bacteremia, Porphyromonas gingivalis, endothelial dysfunction, risk factors.

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