Prevotella intermedia - An overview and its role in periodontitis

Periodontal disease, the most common of oral cavity diseases is the most common cause of tooth loss. On further analysis, it has been found that the bacterial plaque, its pathologic by-products and the host immune system plays a key role. However later, the role of micro-organisms as an etiology in periodontal diseases has gained more importance. The presence of specific bacteria in sub-gingival plaque has been extensively documented and found associated with severity of attachment loss. Recently, it is proposed that the environment and the genetics of the microbe and the host add up for the progression of periodontal disease. Hence, this topic focuses on periodontally important bacteria “Prevotella intermedia” and its role in periodontitis.