Association of Periodontal Diseases with Genetic Polymorphisms

Periodontal diseases are multifactorial in nature. While microbial and other environmental factors are believed to initiate and modulate periodontal disease progression, there now exist strong supporting data that genetic polymorphisms play a role in the predisposition to and progression of periodontal diseases. Variations in any number or combination of genes that control the development of the periodontal tissues or the competency of the cellular and humoral immune systems could affect an individual's risk for disease. A corollary of this realization is that if the genetic basis of periodontal disease susceptibility can be understood, such information may have diagnostic and therapeutic value. This review aims to update the clinician about various genetic polymorphisms associated with periodontal diseases to aid in a better approach to the condition in the future.