Clinical usefulness of microbiological diagnostic tools in the management of periodontal disease

• Published in: Research in Microbiology Vol. 152; no. 7; pp. 631 - 639
• Main Authors: Suchett-Kaye, George, Morrier, Jean-Jacques, Barsotti, Odile
• Format: Book Review Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Paris Elsevier SAS 01-09-2001; Elsevier
• Subjects: Bacteria - classification; Bacteria - genetics; Bacteria - isolation & purification; Bacterial diseases; Bacterial Infections - diagnosis; Bacterial Infections - microbiology; Bacterial Infections - therapy; Bacteriological Techniques; Biological and medical sciences; Biotechnology; Energy; Ent and stomatologic bacterial diseases; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Human bacterial diseases; Humans; Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects; Infectious diseases; Medical sciences; microbiological diagnostic; Microbiology; oral bacteria; periodontal disease; Periodontal Diseases - diagnosis; Periodontal Diseases - microbiology; Periodontal Diseases - therapy; Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; Use of microorganisms or biopolymers in fossil fuel recovery; oral bacteria; microbiological diagnostic; periodontal disease; Immunopathology; Disease; Stomatology; Pathogenesis; AIDS; Immune deficiency; Date; Infection; Clinic; Pathogenicity; Chronic; Periodontal disease; Association; Etiology; Viral disease; Pathogenic; Bacteria; Tooth; Species; Colonization
• ISSN: 0923-2508; 1769-7123
• DOI: 10.1016/S0923-2508(01)01242-6

Periodontal diseases comprises a group of chronic inflammatory conditions affecting tooth supporting structures. It has been known for a long time that pathogenic oral bacteria colonizing the tooth surface are associated with the initiation of the disease process. However, to date, a dozen or so bacterial species have been implicated in the pathogenesis of periodontal disease and no one species by itself is synonymous with disease onset. This multi-bacterial etiology renders the diagnosis of active periodontal disease based on microbiological data difficult. Numerous studies have attempted to relate the usefulness of microbiological diagnostic aids such as microscopy, bacterial culture, immunological and enzymatic assays. Furthermore, recent technical advances have resulted in the use of nucleic acid probes and amplification techniques for the identification of genetic material belonging to potential periodontal pathogens. Despite the availability of a large number of microbiological testing protocols, identification of the microbial etiological agents remains hampered by the complexity of the microbial challenge during periodontal disease. This review discusses the clinical usefulness of these tests in detection and management of periodontal disease.