Periodontal disease affects up to 80 percent of the human population. The disease includes mild forms, known as gingivitis, to more severe forms that when untreated can lead to loss of bone and teeth. The human mouth is full of bacteria that in the absence of healthy oral hygiene practices can take hold and cause damage.
What is a Spirochete?
Spirochetes are gram-negative bacteria that are long, thin and spiral-shaped. These bacteria can be either free-living or parasitic, and some of them are pathogenic (meaning cause disease) in humans. There is one species of spirochete that is part of the natural environment of the human mouth called Treponema denticola. Although T. denticola is typically not harmful, this organism is the topic of recent research, as it may play a role in the progression of periodontal disease.
Known Pathogenic Spirochetes
There are several species of spirochete bacteria that are known to cause disease in humans. Borrelia borgdorferi is the bacterium that causes Lyme disease. Treponema pallidum causes venereal syphilis. Recent advances in the study of these pathogens reveal that T. denticola is genetically similar to its pathogenic relatives.
What is Periodontal Disease?
Periodontal disease is an infection in the tissues surrounding the teeth. Gingivitis is the first stage and is marked by swollen gums. Gingivitis is caused by a build-up of plaque, which is a soft, sticky film of bacteria. If the plaque is not removed it hardens into tarter, which can only be removed by a professional cleaning. Since gingivitis only affects the gums, the effects can be reversed preventing it from worsening into periodontitis which is severe periodontal disease.
Periodontitis occurs when the bacterial infection migrates below the gum line to the connective tissue where the teeth attach to the bone. These pockets of infection can break down the connective tissue, damage the bone and result in teeth becoming loose.
Detection
In studying patients with advanced periodontal disease, researchers have found that the level of T.denticola in the deep tissue pockets is elevated. This is evidence that T. denticola does have a function in the progression of the disease.
Function
The increased presence of T. denticola initiates several cell changing factors. T. denticola suppresses the growth of fibroblasts, which are cells that are important in constructing and repairing tissue. T. denticola also enhance the destruction of collagen. Collagen provides the support to tissues and gives cells their structure. When collagen is broken down or destroyed, tissues degrade. T. denticola also suppresses the response of lymphocytes, which are white blood cells that fight off infection. It is clear from early research that the spirochete T. denticola has the ability to enhance the progression of periodontal disease.
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