Genetics in Periodontics

Periodontal disease does not appear to be a single disease with variations in clinical symptoms but a group of diseases with overlapping symptomatology. The nature of periodontal diseases may be multifactorial. It will be quite important to consider known risk factors for periodontal disease when studying familial clustering or possible genetic mechanisms, because many risk factors for periodontal disease tend to cluster in families through genetic or culture mechanism. It will be important to identify candidate genes that may be the basis for genetic susceptibility to periodontal disease. Genes that may affect immune response to oral bacteria are the most obvious and learning more about traits that predispose to disease, such as tissue response characteristics, may provide additional clues about possible candidate genes. Identification of such genes could enable clinicians better to identify high-risk individuals for targeted prevention and treatment. In the majority of cases, the development of periodontitis in an individual depends probably on the collective presence of a number of environmental risk factors in conjunction with a number of suscepti­bility factors at a given time point during life. The more susceptibility factors an individual has inher­ited, the greater the genetic predisposition and the higher the chance for early development of periodon­titis. With the increasing knowledge of major and modi­fying disease genes it is conceivable that a number of genetic tests will be developed. Database was collected using Medline, Cochrane Datbase of systemic reviews, DARE. Database was collected from last 25 yrs to latest keeping in mind all the changes and new evidences which have evolved during this time. Key concept was kept in mind and synonym terms were searched using MeSH headings by running a preliminary search and noting the terms used in the titles and abstracts as well as the subject headings to make the search more sensitive. Search was made more specific by following the inclusion and exclusion criteria for selecting articles like only those relevant articles were searched which offered knowledge and evidence relating to both periodontitis and genetics. Only articles discussing genetics in general were excluded.