title: Periodontitis: an archetypical biofilm disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Periodontitis is a classic example of biofilm-mediated diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors reviewed selected publications in English-language peer-reviewed journals with respect to microbial biofilms, focusing on representative works that provided a historical to a contemporary perspective on periodontal oral biofilms in the larger context of biofilm microbiology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Developments in advanced microscopy and molecular microbiology have allowed scientists to examine and characterize microbial biofilm-mediated diseases, such as periodontitis, more accurately than in the past.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Periodontitis, like other biofilm infections, is refractory to antibiotic agents and host defenses because the causative microbes live in complex communities that persist despite challenges that range from targeted antibiotic agents to phagocytosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The regular delivery of nontargeted antibiofilm agents may be an effective strategy for treating biofilms, especially if these agents include oxidative agents that dissolve the biofilm matrix.
authors: Center for Biofilms, School of Dentistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA90089, USA.
authors: Christoph
authors: C
authors: Schaudinn
authors: Amita
authors: A
authors: Gorur
authors: Duane
authors: D
authors: Keller
authors: Parish P
authors: PP
authors: Sedghizadeh
authors: J William
authors: JW
authors: Costerton
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion / Q000502:physiology; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D018441:Biofilms; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D008853:Microscopy; D008967:Molecular Biology; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents