Molecular tools for the diagnosis of periodontitis

Periodontitis is a multifactorial chronic inflammatory disease associated with dysbiotic biofilms and aberrant host inflammatory response. It is characterized by destruction of the tissues that support the teeth. Periodontitis is the major cause of tooth loss in adults significantly affecting the quality of life and is associated with many chronic non communicable diseases by contributing to systemic inflammatory burden. Early and accurate diagnosis is the key to the successful management of periodontitis as the entire treatment plan, prognosis, and maintenance directly depend on the quality of periodontal diagnosis. Traditionally the diagnosis of Periodontitis is based on recording medical and dental history, periodontal examination and radiographic findings. The current periodontal diagnostic process reveals only historical tissue destruction and does not provide any information regarding current disease activity, future progression or for monitoring response to therapy. For these reasons, new molecular diagnostic aids are being developed that allow an early detection of disease, determine the presence of current disease activity, predict sites at risk for future breakdown and monitor the response to periodontal therapy. Advanced molecular diagnostic techniques are a class of diagnostic tests that are used to detect and measure nucleic acids, proteins or metabolites in clinical samples to identify risk factors, screen asymptomatic patients, provide more accurate diagnosis and guide the process of development of an ideal therapeutic intervention. This paper provides a review of the molecular diagnostic tools that have the potential to be utilized for diagnosis and management of periodontitis.