Abstract
Plaque is a bacterial dental biofilm that forms on the tooth and mucosal surfaces; periodontal disease is largely driven by its presence. Following colonisation of adherent bacteria, this biofilm increases in bacterial complexity and becomes more anaerobic. The specific plaque hypothesis, the non-specific plaque hypothesis and the multiple pathogen hypothesis have been implicated in the pathogenesis of periodontal disease.
The histopathology of plaque-induced gingivitis and periodontitis has the hallmarks of chronic inflammation: tissue destruction with attempts at healing. Although the complex host responses are largely protective, side effects particularly involving potent cytokines are implicated in tissue damage. Thus mechanisms of tissue destruction involve both direct bacterial effects and damage resulting from the host inflammatory response.
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Hasan, A. (2021). Pathology of Periodontal Disease. In: Palmer, R., Floyd, P. (eds) Periodontology. BDJ Clinician’s Guides. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-76243-8_2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-76243-8_2
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