This review explores periodontal disease, a chronic inflammatory condition affecting the gum tissues and supporting bone. It highlights the concerning prevalence of this disease, impacting nearly 1 billion adults globally, and emphasizes its association with various systemic health issues. Following a detailed description of the disease progression from gingivitis to periodontitis, the review examines traditional methods of diagnosis and treatment. These methods, including clinical examination, X-rays, scaling and root planning, and antibiotics, are effective but often employ a one-size-fits-all approach. The limitations of this approach in addressing the underlying cause, the specific bacterial communities within the oral microbiome, are discussed. Finally, the review introduces the concept of microbial metagenomics as a promising avenue for personalized diagnosis and treatment of periodontal disease. This technology analyzes the complete genetic fingerprint of the oral microbiome, paving the way for targeted interventions and potentially revolutionizing the future of periodontal care. Nevertheless, this advancement of the unique technologies does not come without its own challenges that include high cost which is an obstacle for poor countries, standardization requirements and ethical issues concerning the personalized medicine approach.
Key words: Alveolar bone, Chronic inflammatory disease, Microbiome, Microbial metagenomics, Next-Gen Sequencing, Oral hygiene, Periodontitis, Plaque, Calculus, Scaling and root planning
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