The Use of Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) for Indentifying Periodontopathogenic Bacteria - therapeutic Implications in Periodontal Disease

Abstract

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) shows a high specificity and allows us to identify pathogenic periodontal bacteria. We chose 45 patients wich were divided into three groups with various types of treatment: (I) - SRP; (II) - SRP, followed by topical application of antiseptics (SRP + local); (III) - SRP followed by systemic administration of antimicrobial agents (SRP + systemic). We collected samples from the initial time (TO) and one month after the treatment (T1) for each patient. For the microbiological assessment of periodontal therapy, we analyzed 90 subgingival plaque samples using PCR technique which provides qualitative data on five periodontopathogenic bacteria species: A. actinomycetemcomitans, P.gingivalis, P.intermedia, T.forsythia, and T.denticola. The treatment was followed by a qualitative change of the bacteria detected previously in a different ratio depending on the treatment. We found the inefficiency of mechanical treatment regarding the reduction of periodontal bacteria in patients belonging to group I, an improvement in the results of group II, while the treatment in group III proved to be the most effective . In patients detected A.a+ and/ or P.g+ a systemic antibiotic treatment is required because these periodontal bacteria penetrate the tissue and mucosal surfaces of the oral cavity.

Identification of Bacteria Involved in Periodontal Disease Using Molecular Biology Techniques

“…The oral cavity can be considered as an ecosystem comprising a plurality of microbial species performing antagonistic activites [1,2]. As long as this antagonism is kept in a stable balance, periodontal health and oral tissues remain in a state of normal health [3].…”

Effects of Laser Therapy on Periodontal Status in Adult Patients Undergoing Orthodontic Treatment

“…but also raising the level of certain molecules responsible for periodontal tissue breakdown such as MMP-8 and MMP-9 [ 17 , 18 ]. The identification of periodontal pathogens ( A. actinomycetemcomitans , P. gingivalis , P. intermedia , T. forsythia , T. denticola ) by the polymerase chain-reaction (PCR) technique as well as modified periodontal clinical indexes requires the institution of local mechanical therapy (scaling and root planing (SRP)), associated or not with an antimicrobial treatment [ 19 ].…”