Is periodontal disease preventable? A review

Abstract

We submit that although many questions remain to be answered about the pathogenesis of chronic periodontal disease, its cause is known. The nonspecific plaque theory asserts the primary role of oral bacteria and states that gingival inflammation, the initial lesion of chronic periodontal disease, is produced by accumulations of bacterial plaque in proximity to the gingival margin. The body of evidence is considerable and stems from clinical observations, epidemiological data, clinical and microbiological research and most recently from immunological studies.