A Clinician Guide to Systemic Effects of Periodontal Diseases will serve as an ideal, easy-to-use reference for the practicing health professional. It summarizes the latest research on the systemic effects of periodontal diseases, discusses how the results of this research will impact on clinical practice, and aims to help the clinician to answer questions that may be posed by patients, medical colleagues, and the media. A central theme is the contribution of periodontal diseases to systemic inflammation but other mechanisms, such as systemic dissemination of oral pathogens, are also covered. A collaborative approach involving noted investigators in each field and medical colleagues ensures that all chapters are of clinical relevance from both a dental and a medical perspective. The book is also visually engaging, with numerous summary figures and graphics, bullet point tables, and highlight boxes identifying the most clinically significant points.