Biological strategies for the prevention of periodontal disease: Probiotics and vaccines

Abstract

Probiotics have been considered as an adjunct to prevent and treat a variety of diseases. The ease of administration of probiotics and the fact that no adverse outcomes have been reported in the literature has promoted increasing interest from the research community for this preventive approach in a number of diseases, including periodontal diseases. Several preliminary human clinical trials have been conducted and have yielded promising results. Vaccination is another biological strategy considered for use in the prevention of periodontal diseases. To date, no vaccine trials have been conducted in humans to determine if this strategy would prevent alveolar bone loss or bacterial colonization by target pathogens. Although the available research appears promising, the current body of evidence is incomplete for both strategies. This review attempts to summarize the present status of these 2 biological strategies for the prevention of periodontal diseases.

Clinical therapeutic effects of probiotics in combination with antibiotics on periodontitis

“…This study discusses that in non-surgical treatment methods, the adjuvant use of probiotics can compete with pathogenic bacteria for the combination of epithelial cells to form antibacterial compounds, and then combine antibiotic therapy to make treatment effect is better than pure SRP. [ 9 , 13 , 17 ] To date, no prior systematic review has been performed to evaluate the clinical therapeutic effects of probiotics in combination with antibiotics on periodontitis. We therefore perform the present study and provide a comprehensive assessment of the clinical therapeutic effects of probiotics in combination with antibiotics on periodontitis.…”

“…[ 12 ] In recent years, studies have confirmed that probiotics play an important role in the prevention and treatment of periodontal diseases. [ 13 , 14 ]…”

The prevention of periodontal disease—An overview

“…The strong evidence in support of contemporary practices for mechanical oral hygiene to prevent periodontal disease is well summarized in this volume of Periodontology 2000 . In addition, several other articles are included that review newer chemical or pharmacologic approaches that were developed with the purpose of preventing periodontal inflammation or the formation of dental plaque biofilm; these approaches include the use of natural products, the sustained release of soluble agents within the oral cavity, and probiotics.…”

“…A number of mechanisms have been suggested to explain the benefits associated with probiotic bacteria. The accompanying review explores the potential mechanisms and clinical evidence concerning the use of probiotics to prevent periodontal disease . Probiotic bacteria may reverse damage to epithelia, caused by inflammation, through stimulating the upregulation of structural proteins.…”

“…A number of research groups have reported a periodontal vaccine in development which targets antigens of specific oral gram‐negative anaerobic pathogens that have been implicated in the pathogenesis of this disease. The accompanying article also summarizes the present status of the development of probiotics and vaccines to prevent periodontal disease .…”