CPT CPT Nutrition & Systemic Health Connections 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which systemic condition is most strongly associated with increased severity of periodontal disease?
- Hypertension
- Diabetes mellitus (Correct answer)
- Asthma
- Hypothyroidism
Correct answer: Diabetes mellitus
Diabetes mellitus has the strongest bidirectional relationship with periodontal disease, with poor glycemic control worsening periodontal outcomes and vice versa.
Question 2: Vitamin C deficiency (scurvy) affects periodontal tissues by:
- Increasing alveolar bone density
- Impairing collagen synthesis and causing gingival bleeding (Correct answer)
- Reducing plaque accumulation
- Enhancing post-surgical wound healing
Correct answer: Impairing collagen synthesis and causing gingival bleeding
Vitamin C is essential for collagen synthesis; deficiency leads to impaired connective tissue integrity, gingival bleeding, and poor wound healing.
Question 3: The proposed link between periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease involves:
- Direct bacterial spread to heart valves exclusively
- Systemic inflammation and bacteremia from periodontal pathogens (Correct answer)
- Shared medication side effects only
- Identical genetic mutations only
Correct answer: Systemic inflammation and bacteremia from periodontal pathogens
Periodontal pathogens enter the bloodstream causing bacteremia, and chronic periodontal inflammation contributes to systemic inflammatory burden linked to cardiovascular disease.
Question 4: Which dietary component promotes both dental caries and indirectly affects periodontal health by supporting pathogenic biofilms?
- Dietary protein
- Fermentable carbohydrates (sugars) (Correct answer)
- Dietary fat
- Dietary fiber
Correct answer: Fermentable carbohydrates (sugars)
Fermentable carbohydrates promote bacterial growth and plaque accumulation, contributing to both caries development and periodontal inflammation.
Question 5: A patient with uncontrolled diabetes and periodontal disease should be counseled that:
- Treating periodontitis may help improve glycemic control (lower HbA1c) (Correct answer)
- Diabetes has no effect on periodontal healing
- Periodontal disease only affects oral health with no systemic impact
- Sugar restriction is only relevant for caries prevention
Correct answer: Treating periodontitis may help improve glycemic control (lower HbA1c)
Evidence suggests that successful periodontal treatment can improve glycemic control in diabetic patients, demonstrating the bidirectional relationship.
Question 6: Omega-3 fatty acids are considered beneficial for periodontal health because they:
- Kill periodontal pathogens directly
- Have anti-inflammatory properties that may reduce periodontal inflammation (Correct answer)
- Directly increase alveolar bone density
- Reduce plaque formation on tooth surfaces
Correct answer: Have anti-inflammatory properties that may reduce periodontal inflammation
Omega-3 fatty acids have anti-inflammatory properties that may help modulate the host inflammatory response in periodontal disease.
CPT CPT Nutrition & Systemic Health Connections 1
Which systemic condition is most strongly associated with increased severity of periodontal disease?