Periodontal disease is characterized by destructive inflammation of the gums and supporting ligament and is considered the most pressing oral health concern today. Current therapies focus on elimination of the invasive bacteria through clinical procedures known as scaling and root planing and also the use of local antibiotics.  However, recent literature suggests that although the bacteria initiate periodontal disease, symptoms are perpetuated by an imbalanced immune response and can even be characterized by an absence of a subset of lymphocytes that can promote immunological hypo-responsiveness and tolerance. We hypothesized that recruiting this subset of lymphocytes back into the periodontium would decrease the symptoms of periodontal disease, and restore immunological homeostasis.  In this talk, we will discuss how such targeted, lymphocyte-recruiting formulations appear to indeed abrogate periodontal disease symptoms in both murine and pre-clinical canine models and may even establish a pro-regenerative milieu.

Rationally designed controlled release systems for periodontal disease that promote immunological homeostasis

244th National Meeting (2012)

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