The Use of DNA Probes in Dental Diagnosis and Therapy

Recombinant DNA technology now allows for the development of genetic probes specific for a growing number of etiologic disease agents, including those suspected pathogens in the oral environment. The increasing refinement of DNA probe methodologies and sensitivities will ultimately permit their commonplace use with clinical samples for the rapid identification of their bacterial compositions. The use of probe technology potentially offers a much more facile, accurate, and less time-consuming mechanism for the identification of fastidious micro-organisms from the oral cavity, many of which are laborious and difficult to cultivate.