An Insight into the Role of Benefical Bacteria in Periodontal Pocket Recolonization: A Literature Review

Abstract

ABSTRACT Microflora can be found in both caries-free and periodontitis-free people and caries-affected and periodontitis-affected people, and many clinical studies reveal that the portion of certain bacterial species such as Streptococcus mutans or Porphyromonas gingivalis, respectively, is increased in patients with caries or periodontitis. Therefore, it seems that the competition that results between beneficial bacteria and virulent bacteria leads to either a healthy or sick status of human beings. Competition between members of the dental microflora and there role in pocket recolonization is very complex and many antagonistic characteristics can be observed from competition for initial attachment on tooth surfaces or for later attachment to pioneer bacteria, competition from bacteriocins or hydrogen peroxide secreted and from facilitating the growth of some species which inhibit other species. To date only some of the details of these mechanisms are known. The present review will provide an overview on the prevalence of beneficial bacteria and the major mechanisms of oral bacterial interactions. Due to the large number of oral bacterial species, only the best characterized species are included in this review.