Abstract
Corresponding Author: Ioannou, A.L. Advanced Education Program in Periodontology, University of Minnesota, USA Email: ioann005@umn.edu Abstract: Microbial biofilm is generally considered to be an etiologic factor for the diseases of the periodontium and has been and continues to be the main focus of avid periodontal researchers. Based on our current understanding of the role of the biofilm in the pathogenesis of periodontal disease, each different species seems to have a specific role to fulfill in this community and this chain of inter-connecting and intimately related interactions converge to shape and stabilize a disease-provoking microbiota. The aim of this review paper is to answer the specific question: “What is our current understanding on the role of the biofilm in the pathogenesis of periodontal disease”.
Highlights
Microbial biofilm is generally considered to be an etiologic factor for the diseases of the periodontium and has been and continues to be the main focus of avid periodontal researchers (Socransky and Haffajee, 1994)
The reciprocal association has been thoroughly reported, with many studies verifying that mechanical treatment with or without adjunctive antimicrobial therapy is effective in reducing the prevalence of the majority of sub gingival species, putative periodontal pathogens in patients with good response in the treatment of periodontal disease (Colombo et al, 2012; Jünemann et al, 2012)
The aim of this review paper is to answer the specific question: “What is our current understanding on the role of the biofilm in the pathogenesis of periodontal disease”
Summary
Microbial biofilm is generally considered to be an etiologic factor for the diseases of the periodontium and has been and continues to be the main focus of avid periodontal researchers (Socransky and Haffajee, 1994). The direct etiologic correlation between the microbial biofilm and occurrence of gingivitis has been explicitly demonstrated in the work of Loe et al (1965). Such a profound correlation has not been causatively proven to exist between periodontitis and microbial biofilm. The above evidence points out that a deleterious biofilm is a key etiologic factor for periodontal disease development, but does not suffice without the co-existence of another crucial factor; host susceptibility. Discussion of the effect of host susceptibility in the occurrence of disease is outside the scope of this study, but the interaction between the biofilm and the host’s immune system will be palpated
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