Bacterial Complexes in Periodontal Diseases

Though periodontal disease is primarily caused by microbial biofilm, pathogenesis is influenced by multiple factors. Hence the etiopathogenesis is considered multifactorial elicited by complex of bacterial species that interact with the host tissue. The exact nature of the primary cause by microbes is yet to be summarily understood. The role of bacteria has also been explained by non specific plaque hypothesis and presently prevailing ecological plaque hypothesis by Marsh (1994).The hypothesis proposed by Marsh hints at the possibility of the role of specific bacteria at the stage of disease progressing from gingivitis to periodontitis. Presently the area that still eludes is which specific bacteria are responsible for periodontal disease,but rather which specific organisms are responsible for which specific disease form.