BACTERIA AS RISK MARKERS FOR PERIODONTITIS

SPECIFIC MICROBIAL SPECIEs have been closely associated with periodont itis. Through longitudinal studies, some of.these microbial species ha ve been implicated in the etiology of progressive periodontal disease. Although putative periodontal pathogens are often isolated from indiv iduals with severe periodontitis, they also frequently inhabit the sub gingival environment and are not always associated with advanced disea se. In this respect, it is becoming increasingly apparent that there i s no single etiology of the various periodontal diseases. Destructive periodontal diseases are the result of environmental, host, and bacter ial factors. Microorganisms, however, are essential components of any model for progressive periodontitis. This paper selectively reviews ba cteria as risk markers for periodontitis. Attention focuses on bacteri a in conjunction with behavioral patterns (oral hygiene habits and smo king) and host response (gingival crevicular fluid substances) as risk markers for periodontitis. Prospective studies implicating specific b acteria in progressive periodontitis are addressed and a bacterial ris k assessment model for progressive periodontitis is discussed with res pect to the interplay between bacterial, environmental, and host marke rs.