Abstract

Javeria Khan, Pramod Virupapuram*

ABSTRACT

The basis of individualised periodontal therapy and medicine is targeting treatment to a patient?s specific needs on the basis of genetics, biomarkers, epigenetic, phenotypic, and socioeconomic or psychosocial determinants that distinguish an individual from others with similar clinical presentations. The clinical experimental gingivitis studies in dental students and the experimental periodontitis studies in dogs strongly supported the general concept that bacterial accumulations on the teeth predictably led to gingivitis and, if untreated, progressed to periodontitis. This led to the basic understanding of the concept of non specific and specific plaque hypothesis and the treatment aimed at eliminating microbial insults to gingival and sub gingival areas. But on the other hand this concept suggested that the severity of periodontitis was a simple function of the magnitude of bacterial accumulations and the time of exposure and all individuals are equally susceptible to periodontitis, and if treated according to the proven principles from the longitudinal studies patients should respond in a predictable manner. If those concepts are correct, there is no clear value to stratifying a patient?s risk for developing periodontitis or responding predictably to therapy.