Diagnosis of periodontal disease activity by detection of key microbial antigens

This paper reviews the development of various rapid microbial identification techniques and their potential rôle in the diagnosis of active periodontal tissue destruction. It also explores the concerns expressed by some, that although these techniques offer enormous promise as research tools, validation and translation of test results to clinical diagnosis, prognosis and treatment planning are still problematic. It may be premature to recommend these tests to clinicians in practice. Further longitudinal studies are required to establish the best use of these techniques in a clinical setting.