Skip to main content

Main menu

  • Home
  • Articles
    • Current Issue
    • Archived Issues
  • Info for
    • Authors
    • Advertisements
    • Subscribing
  • About
    • About Us
    • Editorial Board
    • JDH Reviewers
  • More
    • Alerts
    • Feedback
    • Permissions

User menu

  • Register
  • Subscribe
  • My alerts
  • Log in

Search

  • Advanced search
Journal of Dental Hygiene

Visit the American Dental Hygienists' Association's main website

  • Register
  • Subscribe
  • My alerts
  • Log in
Journal of Dental Hygiene

Advanced Search

  • Home
  • Articles
    • Current Issue
    • Archived Issues
  • Info for
    • Authors
    • Advertisements
    • Subscribing
  • About
    • About Us
    • Editorial Board
    • JDH Reviewers
  • More
    • Alerts
    • Feedback
    • Permissions
  • Visit jdenthyg on Facebook
  • Follow jdenthyg on Twitter
  • Follow jdenthyg on Instagram
  • Follow jdenthyg on Linkedin
  • RSS feeds
Research ArticleArticles

Microbes, Inflammation, Scaling and Root Planing, and the Periodontal Condition

Charles M. Cobb
American Dental Hygienists' Association October 2008, 82 (suppl 2) 4-9;
Charles M. Cobb
DDS, MS, PhD
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • Article
  • References
  • Info & Metrics
  • PDF
Loading

Abstract

Biofilms are a complex community of microorganisms characterized by the excretion of an adhesive and protective extracellular matrix, microbe-to-microbe attachment, structural heterogeneity, genetic diversity, and complex community interactions. Bacteria growing in dental biofilms display an increased tolerance to antibiotics and antimicrobial agents, including those used in dentifrices and mouthrinses.

The microbial challenge associated with the inflammatory periodontal diseases induces an immediate inflammatory and immune response in the host. The nature and magnitude of the response has an impact on the severity and rate of progression of the periodontal disease. It is this host inflammatory-immune response that ultimately leads to the clinical signs and symptoms of gingivitis and chronic periodontitis. The traditional treatment modality of scaling and root planing (SRP) remains the “gold standard” for the non-surgical management of chronic periodontitis. Even clinically successful treatment has a high probability of pocket reinfection. Re-infection of periodontal pockets results from residual biofilms, increased tolerance of microbes within a dense, mature biofilm to antibiotics, reservoirs of bacteria in calculus, and reservoirs of bacteria within the dentinal tubules of infected root surfaces. Thus, for maximum effect, a combination of scaling and root planing and locally delivered antimicrobials should be considered if non-surgical therapy is the treatment of choice.

  • periodontal disease
  • periodontal infection
  • chronic periodontitis
  • scaling and root planing
  • dental biofilm
  • Copyright © 2008 The American Dental Hygienists' Association
PreviousNext
Back to top

In this issue

American Dental Hygienists Association: 82 (suppl 2)
American Dental Hygienists' Association
Vol. 82, Issue suppl 2
Supplement 3
  • Table of Contents
  • Index by author
  • Complete Issue (PDF)
Download PDF
Article Alerts
Sign In to Email Alerts with your Email Address
Email Article

Thank you for your interest in spreading the word on Journal of Dental Hygiene.

NOTE: We only request your email address so that the person you are recommending the page to knows that you wanted them to see it, and that it is not junk mail. We do not capture any email address.

Enter multiple addresses on separate lines or separate them with commas.
Microbes, Inflammation, Scaling and Root Planing, and the Periodontal Condition
(Your Name) has sent you a message from Journal of Dental Hygiene
(Your Name) thought you would like to see the Journal of Dental Hygiene web site.
CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
Citation Tools
Microbes, Inflammation, Scaling and Root Planing, and the Periodontal Condition
Charles M. Cobb
American Dental Hygienists' Association Oct 2008, 82 (suppl 2) 4-9;

Citation Manager Formats

  • BibTeX
  • Bookends
  • EasyBib
  • EndNote (tagged)
  • EndNote 8 (xml)
  • Medlars
  • Mendeley
  • Papers
  • RefWorks Tagged
  • Ref Manager
  • RIS
  • Zotero
Share
Microbes, Inflammation, Scaling and Root Planing, and the Periodontal Condition
Charles M. Cobb
American Dental Hygienists' Association Oct 2008, 82 (suppl 2) 4-9;
del.icio.us logo Twitter logo Facebook logo Mendeley logo
  • Tweet Widget
  • Facebook Like

Jump to section

  • Article
  • Info & Metrics
  • References
  • PDF

Similar Articles

More in this TOC Section

  • Locally Delivered Antimicrobials: Clinical Evidence and Relevance
  • Periodontal Treatment Protocol (PTP) for the General Dental Practice
Show more Articles

Related Articles

  • No related articles found.
  • Google Scholar

Keywords

  • Periodontal disease
  • periodontal infection
  • chronic periodontitis
  • scaling and root planing
  • dental biofilm

About

  • About ADHA
  • About JDH
  • JDH Reviewers
  • Contact Us

Helpful Links

  • Submit a Paper
  • Author Guidelines
  • Permissions
  • FAQs

More Information

  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Email Alerts
  • Help

ISSN #: 1553-0205

Copyright © 2025 American Dental Hygienists’ Association

Powered by HighWire