Presenters: Melanie Riggs
Authors: Marlee Smith, Melanie Riggs
Faculty Advisor: Kimberly Jensen
Institution: Dixie State University
Periodontitis is a common oral disease involving a microbial imbalance that leads to inflammation and results in tissue damage and bone loss. Probiotics are live microorganisms that are beneficial to the oral cavity and have been indicated as an adjunctive treatment to traditional non-surgical periodontal therapy (NSPT) to improve the clinical outcomes of periodontal treatment. Research for this literature review was collected from published research articles using online databases such as Google Scholar and PubMed. Keywords searched were probiotics, periodontitis, Lactobacillus reuteri, Lactobacillus salivarius,and Bifidobacterium animalis.The results from relevant meta-analyses, randomized controlled trials, and a systematic review were analyzed and compiled together for the effects of the probiotics Bifidobacterium animalis, Lactobacillus reuteri and Lactobacillus salivarius when used in conjunction with NSPT. A careful review of the studies revealed patterns of significant reductions in probing pocket depth, especially in moderate and deep pockets when using the probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri. Furthermore, the research demonstrated that the probiotic strains Bifidobacterium animalisand Lactobacillus reuteriimproved clinical attachment level by as much as one millimeter. Bifidobacterium animaliswas also implicated in decreasing levels of proinflammatory cytokines. Other recorded benefits of using probiotics as an adjunct to NSPT included inhibition of pathogenic bacteria and decreased levels of tissue degradation enzymes. Probiotics may be recommended as a simple, non-invasive, supplemental treatment for NSPT. Their use may reduce periodontal pockets and allow access to areas for easier cleaning which in turn can prevent further disease progression.