ABSTRACT
Modern dental research has revealed many breakthroughs by discovering the importance of the oral-systemic connection in overall health. If any cracks are in the enamel, the dentinal fluid flow is increased because the hydrostatic pressure within the tooth is greater than oral pressure and so harmful bacteria outside of the teeth cannot penetrate the tooth. For this reason, the teeth remain caries-free. Caries susceptibility can be predicted by "caries-activity tests" that provide valuable information about the bacterial population in the mouth; however, they tell nothing about the response of the tooth to this environment. Periodontal disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in the adult population worldwide and one of the body's most abundant sources of chronic, low-grade inflammation. Due to the complex nature of periodontal disease, there exists a high rate of recurrence subsequent to traditional scaling and root planning therapy and surgical periodontal therapy.
