Periodontitis is a destructive inflammation of the periodontium (Figure 4) affecting approximately 30 percent of women of childbearing age.The process involves bacterial infiltration of the periodontium. Toxins produced by the bacteria stimulate a chronic inflammatory response, and the periodontium is broken down and destroyed, creating pockets that become infected. Eventually, the teeth loosen.This process can induce recurrent bacteremia, which indirectly triggers the hepatic acute phase response, resulting in production of cytokines, prostaglandins (i.e., PGE2), and interleukins