Microbiological aids in periodontics

Abstract

New approaches to periodontal diagnosis, including advanced microbiologic, biochemical, and genetic tests, have been shown to provide the clinician with the information not available by traditional means. The purpose of a diagnostic test is to confirm, exclude, classify, or monitor disease to guide treatment. Their clinical value depends on whether the information they provide leads to improved patient outcomes. This can be assessed by randomized trials, which compare patient outcomes from the new diagnostic test versus the old test strategy. So, the current paper aims to focus on the practical utility of this rapidly emerging plethora of periodontal microbiological diagnostic tools, emphasizing the critical issues surrounding the clinical application of microbiologic investigations, employed for periodontal diagnosis.