Periodontal disease and genetics an overview and lineage

Abstract

Periodontal diseases are a heterogeneous group of pathologies. It is believed that bacteria are required to develop periodontitis. While microbial and other environmental factors initiate and modulate periodontal disease, individuals respond differently to common environmental challenges, and this differential response is influenced by the individual’s genetic profile. Genes clearly play a role in the predisposition to and progression of periodontal diseases. Susceptibility to periodontal disease and the severity of the disease results from the interactions of genetic mutations and polymorphisms. This is my brief review of various genetic factors and methods used to delineate the various periodontal diseases and genetic associations.Their affects on the disease phenotype, morphology and outcome.Periodontitis is clearly multifactorial, and researchers need to design studies that examine the role of important environmental and genetic factors simultaneously. Given the large no. of genes in human genome and bacteria in the oral cavity, it is likely that genes and environment interact in important but as-yet un-recognized ways to alter disease risk. Most importantly, identifying specific genetic risk factors may be academically appealing but is of little use unless it leads to improvements in the prevention or treatment of disease.