Microbiological Diagnosis for Periodontal Diseases

Abstract

Periodontitis, an infectious disease caused by bacteria, brings about destructive changes leading to loss of bone and connective tissue attachment (Williams, 1990). Several oral bacteria are considered to be possible pathogens in periodontitis (Darveau et al., 1997). In particular, the black-pigmented, Gram-negative anaerobic rods Porphyromonas gingivalis and Tannerella forsythia have been implicated as major pathogens in the etiology of this disease. These two species are frequently isolated together, implying the existence of an ecological relationship between these organisms (Darveau et al., 1997). Treponema denticola, a helical oral spirochete, has also been considered as a major pathogen in periodontitis (Darveau et al., 1997). Mixed infection with these three bacteria in periodontal sites is correlated strongly with the severity of adult periodontitis (Socransky & Haffajee, 1998). Socransky named this combination the “red complex” and found that these bacteria were most crucial for the progression of this disease (Socransky & Haffajee, 1998). Thus, the detection of these organisms provides essential information about the severity of periodontitis. Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans is suspected to be the most probable causal factor for aggressive periodontitis