Pulpal and periodontal inflammatory diseases are the most common pathologies in everyday clinical dental practice, and epidemiological data indicates a considerable global burden caused by oral inflammatory diseases. These diseases are the consequence of the complex interplay between microbes, their virulence factors, and the immune system of the host.

The local activation of the host’s innate and adaptive immune system is characterized by the recruitment of various cell types and cell-specific mediators, which results in the destruction of tooth supporting tissues. The increase of circulating inflammatory biomarkers may be a consequence of oral infection spreading through the blood system and activation of the systemic immune response, which could lead to the development of generalized low-grade inflammation in the human body and the impairment of the general health of the individual. It is of great interest to investigate the potential pathophysiological mechanisms by which oral inflammatory conditions, through low-grade inflammation, contribute to the development of different general health disorders.

The aim of this Special Issue is to update our current knowledge on the interplay between pulpal and periodontal inflammatory disorders and the impairment of general health based on recent scientific evidence. We hope to attract research presenting novel pathophysiological mechanisms and common paths in oral inflammatory and general health disorders. We especially welcome original research articles analyzing the impact of different inflammatory mediators and low-grade inflammation in associational and longitudinal studies. Explanations of bidirectional relationships between systemic low-grade inflammation and impairment of general health based on strong evidence in animal experimental models are very welcome. We also encourage interventional studies aiming at improving our knowledge on the effectiveness of dental therapy on the level of low-grade inflammation. We welcome both original research and review articles.

Potential topics include but are not limited to the following:

• Oral inflammatory diseases as a source of low-grade inflammation
• Inflammatory mediators and low-grade inflammation in different pulpal diseases
• Inflammatory mediators and low-grade inflammation in different periodontal diseases
• Low-grade inflammation as a pathophysiological mechanism of general health impairment
• Association between pulpal/periodontal inflammatory diseases and cardiovascular diseases
• Association between pulpal/periodontal inflammatory diseases and diabetes mellitus
• Association between pulpal/periodontal inflammatory diseases and gastrointestinal diseases
• Association between pulpal/periodontal inflammatory diseases and pregnancy-related disorders
• Association between pulpal/periodontal inflammatory diseases and autoimmune disorders
• Association between pulpal/periodontal inflammatory diseases and hematologic disorders
• Association between pulpal/periodontal inflammatory diseases and cancer