Innate immunity and oral microbiome: a personalized, predictive, and preventive approach to the management of oral diseases

Abstract

Three recent advances in immunology, genetics, and microbiology have ushered in a new era in the continued efforts to better understand and treat oral diseases, moving ever closer to the three Ps of modern healthcare: personalized, predictive, and preventive medicine (PPPM). The discovery of now 15 subtypes of innate lymphoid cells, the refinement of DNA sequencing, and culture-independent characterization of the entire microbial community begin to reveal this complex adaptive network. All these advances warrant a systematic review as they have changed and will continue to change dental medicine. We will update dental professionals on these advances as related to oral diseases and associated pathologies in other organ systems such as premature labor, arthrosclerosis, and cancer. The five objectives are:1.Introduce the concept of microbiota and microbiome2.Explain how we study microbiota and microbiome3.Describe the types and functions of innate lymphoid cells4.Inventory the unique demands of the oral cavity5.Provide a heuristic model to integrate the above6.Conclusions and expert recommendations