Molecular aspects of the pathogenesis of periodontitis

The past decade of basic research in periodontology has driven radical changes in our understanding and perceptions of the pathogenic processes that drive periodontal tissue destruction. The core elements of the classical model of disease pathogenesis, developed by Page & Kornman in 1997, remain pertinent today; however, our understanding of the dynamic interactions between the various microbial and host factors has changed significantly. The molecular era has unraveled aspects of genetics, epigenetics, lifestyle and environmental factors that, in combination, influence biofilm composition and the host's inflammatory immune response, creating a heterogenic biological phenotype that we label as 'periodontitis'.…