Bacterial transmission in periodontal diseases: a critical review.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Narrative review of observational molecular tracking studies without systematic review methodology
PubMed 9182736 · doi:10.1902/jop.1997.68.5.421
What was done
This paper is a critical narrative review evaluating evidence on intra-familial and extra-familial transmission routes of bacteria associated with periodontal disease, focusing on evidence from molecular genetic differentiation techniques and the role of saliva as a transmission vector.
What was found
The abstract reports no numerical data, sample sizes, or statistical estimates. Qualitatively, it notes strong evidence for parent-to-child bacterial transmission (colonized children typically harbor genotypically identical strains to a parent) and less frequent transfer between spouses. Bacterial transfer via saliva does not consistently result in host colonization, infection, or clinical disease, likely due to host defenses, bacterial antagonism, or variable bacterial pathogenicity.
Why it matters
The review synthesizes evidence showing that while periodontal pathogens are communicable—predominantly between parents and children—they are not readily transmissible or sufficient on their own to cause clinical disease.
Limits
The abstract provides no quantitative metrics, search parameters, or study selection criteria. As a narrative review published in 1997, it lacks formal systematic methodology and reflects only early molecular tracking literature.
Cited by
- context Periodontal disease is transferable and can be transmitted between individuals.