[Typing and transmission of periodontal bacteria]

An overview is given of typing methods for bacteria that are associated with periodontitis. Special attention is paid to new molecular biological techniques, based on the characterization of protein and DNA. Bacteria that are associated with periodontitis have a population structure similar to that of opportunistic bacteria. Typing methods are used to study transmission of bacteria. P. gingivalis can be transmitted between spouses, but transmission from parent to child seems to be uncommon. A. actinomycetemcomitans transmission between adults does not occur frequently, while transmission from parent to child can occur in a low frequency.