Adjuvant Effect of Probiotics in the Treatment of Periodontal and Peri-Implant Diseases

Abstract

Probiotics are “live microorganisms that can provide health benefits to the host when ingested in sufficient quantities”. This category of microorganisms includes bacteria and yeasts that are normally present in the human intestine (intestinal microbiota) or similar to them. The introduction of beneficial microorganisms can modulate dysbiotic microbiota, restoring the normal host-microbiota balance. This creates the basis for the use of probiotics as adjunctive treatment in various pathologies such as metabolic diseases, tumors, neurological diseases, and inflammatory bowel diseases. The oral microbiota is a complex and diverse assembly of microorganisms that usually exist in balance with the host. An imbalance in it leads to the development of pathologies, including dental caries and periodontitis. The non-surgical treatment of choice for periodontitis aims at removing hard and soft deposits and disrupting the bacterial biofilm, although periodontal pockets can be immediately recolonized by pathogenic bacteria. The limitations of this therapeutic approach have led to the need for effective adjunctive treatments and support. Studies have shown that adding probiotics as adjuncts in the treatment of periodontitis and peri-implantitis reduces disease indices in both conditions.