Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 4, 2026
07:15
Robust Ligature-Induced Model of Murine Periodontitis for the Evaluation of Oral Neutrophils
Published on: January 21, 2020
Mapping the Oral Microbiome's Role in Periodontal Disease Progression: A Systematic Review
Shaan R Patel1, Vishnu S Vundamati1, Riyana R Patel2
1Biology, Nova Southeastern University, Davie, USA.
Cureus
|July 3, 2026
Summary
Periodontal disease involves oral microbiome shifts, not just one pathogen. Restoring microbial balance and host inflammation control are key for effective treatment and preventing progression.
Area of Science:
- Oral microbiology
- Periodontology
- Inflammatory diseases
Background:
- Periodontal disease is an inflammatory condition characterized by the destruction of tooth-supporting tissues.
- It involves a shift from a symbiotic to a dysbiotic oral microbial community, rather than a single causative pathogen.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and synthesize evidence on how oral microbiome alterations contribute to periodontal disease severity and progression.
- To explore the relationship between microbial composition, structure, functional activity, and clinical outcomes in periodontal disease.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive literature search was conducted across PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and Embase.
- Included studies were peer-reviewed, human-based, and published between 2000 and 2026.
- Twenty-two articles were analyzed for associations between microbial patterns and clinical periodontal outcomes.
Main Results:
- Periodontal disease severity correlated with oral microbiome compositional shifts, not overall diversity or bacterial load.
- Increased prevalence of red-complex bacteria (e.g., Porphyromonas gingivalis) was linked to worsening clinical parameters.
- Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans showed a stronger association with aggressive periodontal disease phenotypes.
Conclusions:
- Periodontal disease management should focus on restoring microbial homeostasis and regulating host inflammation, not solely targeting individual pathogens.
- Functional dysbiosis, indicated by enriched inflammatory and metabolic pathways, contributes to tissue destruction.
- Interventions modifying the oral ecosystem and host-microbe interactions improve microbial profiles and clinical outcomes, enabling personalized treatment strategies.
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