Cowan LT, et al. - Researchers analyzed 8092 cases of the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study to examine periodontal disease in 1996–1998 and incident venous thromboembolism (VTE) through 2011 to conceptualize periodontal disease as an independently associated factor with increased risk of incident VTE. They determined periodontal disease by using self-reported tooth loss due to gum disease and dental inspections. They found 13.9% self-reported tooth loss from gum disease and 30% raised VTE risk in old candidates (average age 62.7 years). After adjusting demographic factors, SES, periodontal risk factors, oral hygiene, and access to dental care variables, they found no significant associations between clinical measures of periodontitis and VTE.