Probiotic Therapy as an Adjuvant in the Treatment of Periodontal Disease: An Innovative Approach
<i>Background and Objectives</i>: Periodontal inflammation, often linked to oral microbiota dysbiosis dominated by pathogenic bacteria, remains a significant challenge in periodontitis management. Traditional periodontal therapies primarily reduce the bacterial load but fail to restore t...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-01-01
|
| Series: | Medicina |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/61/1/126 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| Summary: | <i>Background and Objectives</i>: Periodontal inflammation, often linked to oral microbiota dysbiosis dominated by pathogenic bacteria, remains a significant challenge in periodontitis management. Traditional periodontal therapies primarily reduce the bacterial load but fail to restore the microbiota balance. Probiotics offer a promising therapeutic adjunct with their ability to enhance beneficial bacteria. This study investigates the effects of probiotics on the oral microbiota, inflammatory markers (IL-1β, TNF-α), and clinical parameters (gingival index, bleeding index, and periodontal pocket depth). <i>Materials and Methods</i>: In this pilot study, 80 patients with moderate-to-severe periodontitis were assigned to two groups. Group A received standard periodontal therapy (non-surgical periodontal therapy (NSPT)) with probiotic supplementation (<i>Lactobacillus reuteri</i>, 2 × 10⁹ CFU daily for 8 weeks), and Group B received standard treatment with a placebo. Microbiological changes were assessed via quantitative PCR, while inflammatory markers (IL-1β, TNF-α) were analyzed using ELISA. Clinical parameters, including the gingival index (GI), bleeding index (BI), and periodontal pocket depth (PPD), were measured at baseline (T0), 4 weeks (T1), and 8 weeks (T2) using standardized methods. <i>Results</i>: Probiotic therapy (Group A) significantly reduced the pathogenic bacteria and increased the beneficial bacteria levels compared to the placebo (<i>p</i> < 0.01). Inflammatory markers decreased by 37% (IL-1β) and 42% (TNF-α), while clinical parameters improved, with reductions in the gingival and bleeding indices (−1.5, −1.3) and a 2 mm decrease in the periodontal pocket depth (<i>p</i> < 0.01). <i>Conclusions</i>: Probiotics, as an adjunct to periodontal therapy, effectively restore the microbiota balance, reduce inflammation, and improve clinical outcomes in periodontitis. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 1010-660X 1648-9144 |