Microbial Diagnosis in Periodontics: Merits and Demerits: A Review

Abstract

Oral microbiology plays a major role not only in etiology but also our ability to prevent and treat oral diseases. Rapid and specific tests to identify the bacteria have facilitated increased testing by clinicians. However, results must be interpreted with regard to current concepts of etiology and pathogenesis of periodontal diseases. Various techniques/methods have been described for microbial diagnosis. This paper addresses the different microbiological diagnostic aids and their short comings. I. Introduction: Epidemiological surveys have shown that most of the adults present some mild form of periodontal disease. 5 to 15% of them suffer from severe periodontitis 7 . Periodontitis is mostly associated with micro- organism colonizing on the tooth surface and that is the main reason for prevention of periodontal disease is mainly based on plaque control. Even after following preventive practice on periodontitis, controlling the periodontal disease still remains a major public health problem in general population. Treatment is usually initiated when lesions are clinically detectable and tissue damage is irreversible. This occurs mainly due to the lack of diagnostic methods to detect early tissue change when the lesions are still at a reversible stage and can be treated in a non-invasive way. The treatment should be targeted at controlling the etiological agents. Various techniques/ methods have been described for microbial diagnosis. Some of the diagnostic tests includesCulture Methods, Direct Microscopy, Immunofluorescence Method, ELISA test, BANA test, Polymerase Chain Reaction, DNA probe, Checker Board DNA-DNA - hybridization technique, Restriction Endonuclease Analysis and Microbiological kits etc. In this article the merits and demerits of different microbiological aids are discussed.