EXCELLENT letter to the editor by Thomas J. Pallasch, DDS,MS.   page
16

"The contention that 20 years of literature support for the concept
that periodontal disease has adverse effects on distant tissues and so
forth misleadlingly implies that causation/significant associations
have been established when such is not the case. Years of poorly
performed studies support nothing."

also,

"Disease mongering can be defined as the 'selling of sickness that
widens the boundaries of illness and grows the markets for those who
sell and deliver treatments.'"

Last October when I read in JADA, the article, "relationship of
periodontal disease to disease and disorders at distant sites" I felt
the same way as Dr. Pallasch.  I am happy someone responded.

....David DiBenedetto, DMD, author of "Insider's guide to gum disease,
orthodontics, and dentistry. What is not taught in dental school."