Everyone might already know that genetics plays a vital role in everyone’s health. But think about whether you know genetics plays a major part in dentistry too!!

Introduction to Periodontal Disease:

Periodontal Disease is a persistent inflammatory condition that affects the tissues around the teeth, which leads to tooth loss among adults. Some of the possible causes of periodontitis include negligence in dental hygiene, smoking, and systemic diseases like diabetes. With the recent advancement in genetic research, important findings have been made concerning risk factors and treatment strategies. 

Analyzing more on Gentical risk factors in periodontal disease:

Heredity plays an important role in the development of periodontal disease. Many studies have shown that a family history of periodontal disease is prone to develop the below-mentioned conditions regardless of the environmental conditions.

➔Immune Response Genes: Polymorphisms in genes such as IL-1 (interleukin – 1) and TNF-α (tumor necrosis factor-alpha) may display higher expression of inflammatory activity in response to bacterial plaque that leads to more severe periodontal issues.

➔Collagen Genes: Variations in collagen genes, such as COLIA1 and COLIA2, affect the structural integrity of periodontal tissues. Altered versions of these genes can lead to the formation of non-tight connective tissues, which can be easily broken by the bacteria and damage the tissues consequently.

➔Matrix Metalloproteinase Genes: Polymorphisms in Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) genes may cause an increase in enzyme activity and thus cause rapid deterioration of the periodontal tissues.

Knowing the critical understanding of Genetics for personalized treatment:

By learning the knowledge of genetic factors in periodontal disease gives way to accentuate more tailored treatment strategies. Genetic testing identifies individuals at high risk, allowing for early intervention with tailored preventive measures.

Modalities include:

1. Targeted Therapeutics:  Those people who have certain polymorphisms of the IL-1 gene might be effective in receiving the treatment that affects this cytokine and possesses anti-inflammatory properties.
2. Regenerative Approaches: Through such gene regulation, certain cells that are implicated in tissue repair and regeneration, and damaged periodontal structures could be repaired more efficiently.
3. Risk Assessment and Management: Genetic test data can be combined with clinic and environment data, which is helpful for dentists to build stable risk models for patients and can be applied for prevention and treatment.
4. Personalized Preventive Care: For people, who have some genetic predispositions, the actions aimed at prevention can be enhanced. This includes regular dental checkups, receiving oral health instructions, and the use of other antimicrobial measures that help in controlling microbial growth. 

Genetics in Management of Periodontal Diseases: The Future 

So far, the research has been in the early stage of finding the genetics integration into periodontal disease treatment, but the current research also aims at identifying the exact genes associated with the disease and developing various applications of the genes in the clinical diagnoses. Future studies of the genetic background of periodontal diseases will increase the understanding of the disease’s pathogenesis and, consequently, enhance the treatment regimens, beneficial for patients.