AIM: To investigate whether periodontal disease(PD) is associated with increasing coronary heart disease(CHD) risk by performing a meta-analysis.METHODS: Two authors independently searched Pub Med and China National Knowledge Infrastructure up to January 10 th, 2013 for relevant case-control studies that investigated the association between PD and CHD. After quality assessment using Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and data extraction by two independent authors, the overall and subgroup meta-analyses were performed and publication bias were examined using the Comprehensive Meta-Analysis V2 software. Potential publication bias was assessed using visual inspection of the funnel plots, Egger linear regression test, and trims and fill method.RESULTS: Finally 38 relevant case-control studies were identified, involving 4950 CHD patients and 5490 controls. Eleven studies were rated low quality and 27 were high quality. Based on random-effects, a significant association was identified between PD and CHD(OR 3.79, 95%CI: 2.23-6.43, P < 0.001, I2 = 98.59%), and sensitivity analysis showed that this result was robust. Subgroup analyses according to adjusted/unadjusted ORs, source of control, methodological quality, end point, assessment of PD/CHD, and ethnicity also indicated a significant association. Publication bias was detected, and the estimated OR including the “missing” studies did not substantially differ from our estimate with adjustment for missing studies(OR 4.15, 95%CI: 2.62-6.54, P < 0.001).CONCLUSION: Based on the meta-analysis, PD is probably associated with CHD risk independently and significantly. To investigate whether periodontal disease (PD) is associated with increasing coronary heart disease (CHD) risk by performing a meta-analysis. METHODS: Two authors either searched Pub Med and China National Knowledge Infrastructure up to January 10 th, 2013 for relevant case-control studies that investigated the association between PD and CHD. After quality assessment using Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and data extraction by two independent authors, the overall and subgroup meta-analyzes were performed and publication bias were examined using the Comprehensive Meta-Analysis V2 software. Potential publication bias was assessed using visual inspection of the funnel plots, Egger linear regression test, and trims and fill method .RESULTS: Finally 38 relevant case-control studies were identified, involving 4950 CHD patients and 5490 controls. Eleven studies were rated low quality and 27 were high quality. Based on random-effects, a significant association was identified between PD and CHD (OR 3.79, 95% CI: 2.23-6.43, P <0.001, I2 = 98.59%), and sensitivity analysis showed that this result was robust. Subgroup analyzes according to adjusted / unadjusted ORs, source of control, methodological quality, end point publication of was detected, and the estimated OR including the “missing” studies did not substantially differ from our estimate with adjustment for missing studies (OR 4.15, 95% CI: 2.62-6.54, P <0.001). CONCLUSION: Based on the meta-analysis, PD is probably associated with CHD risk independently and significantly.