Is there any relation of nanobacteria with periodontal diseases?
Periodontal diseases, including gingivitis and periodontitis, have been described as inflammation of the supporting tissues of the teeth. The main cause of periodontal disease is dental plaque. If dental plaque is not eliminated of dental surface, mineralized dental plaque (calculus) occur. The mineralization process of calculus is similar to that of other ectopic calcifications, such as kidney stones and gallstones. The presence of a certain type of microorganism discovered during the last decade in various pathogenic calcification such as renal stones, atherosclerotic plaques. This microorganism is nanobacterium that has unique characteristics in different regards. Nanobacteria appear as self-propagating calcifying macro-molecular complexes found in bovine and human blood and blood products. The fact that nanobacteria is present in various pathogenic calcification incidences in the body and that it is responsible for the formation of calcification may remind us the hypothesis that it may be present in dental calculus which has a similar mineralization formation process and that it may play an efficient role in the calcification of dental calculus. Thus, nanobacteria may be considered to be a risk factor for the periodontal diseases providing that it has effect on the formation of dental calculus. The nucleating role of the microorganisms in the formation of dental calculus show similarities to that of nanobacteria in calcification. What is more significant is that the presence of an alkali environment is essential for nanobacteria to cause calcification as is the case for dental calculus to occur. These significant conditions support the idea that nanobacteria may be present in the formation and in the contents of dental calculus. Unfortunately, there are only few studies on nanobacteria conducted in the field of dentistry. It is not known whether or not dental plaque is associated with nanobacteria. A study may reveal the fact whether nanobactera are really a new bacteria species or they were the bacteria previously found and given a different name, but not yet proved to be involved in calcification. Nanobacteria may be proved to be a helpful criterion in explaining the relation of nanobacteria with periodontal disease formation.
Demir
Turgut
T
Department of Periodontology, Atatürk University, Faculty of Dentistry, 25240 Erzurum, Turkey. turgdemir@hotmail.com
D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000382:microbiology; D005891:Gingivitis / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology / Q000502:physiology