{"title":"Editorial: Exploring oral microbiota dysbiosis as a risk factor for oral and non-communicable diseases.","authors":"Denis Bourgeois, Giovanna Orsini, Florence Carrouel","doi":"10.3389/froh.2025.1611120","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/froh.2025.1611120","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":94016,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in oral health","volume":"6 ","pages":"1611120"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12061716/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143995491","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Frontiers in oral healthPub Date : 2025-04-25eCollection Date: 2025-01-01DOI: 10.3389/froh.2025.1523024
Mohamed Jaber, Mohamed Saleh Hamad Ingafou, Nireeksha, Alexander Maniangat Luke
{"title":"Exploring the association of calbindin -D28K in renal dialysis with oral health: a comprehensive review.","authors":"Mohamed Jaber, Mohamed Saleh Hamad Ingafou, Nireeksha, Alexander Maniangat Luke","doi":"10.3389/froh.2025.1523024","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/froh.2025.1523024","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The kidney, brain, and endocrine glands all express calbindin-D28K, a calcium-binding protein that is essential for maintaining calcium homeostasis. Calcium metabolism is disturbed in chronic kidney disease (CKD), which may have an impact on dental and bone health. Patients on dialysis frequently have changed salivary composition, which raises their risk of dental problems such tooth decay and periodontal disease. Although there is no direct study on the relationship between Calbindin-D28K and dental health in dialysis patients, its function in calcium control raises the possibility of a connection that merits more investigation.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>To address the impact of Calbindin-D28K levels in chronic kidney disease on oral health.</p><p><strong>Design: </strong>A comprehensive electronic search was conducted using databases like PubMed, ResearchGate, SCOPUS, and others, to find relevant articles published before May 2024. The search terms included Calbindin-D28K, renal dialysis, dental and oral health, Vitamin D, calcium, end-stage renal disease, and related topics. The review examined studies from 1975 to 2024, focusing on the relationship between dental health and renal dialysis and factors affecting Calbindin-D28K levels.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 48 articles were retrieved through electronic database. After evaluating the title, abstract, and full text of these articles, only 7 were selected for the present review. Final consideration: Based on the data available on selected studies, they point to a possible association between these people's higher frequency of periodontal disease and tooth caries and lower levels of Calbindin-D28K.It is imperative to recognize the reciprocal impact of systemic illnesses on oral health. In addition to being important for maintaining calcium homeostasis, calbindin-D28K may also be a biomarker for renal damage and have an impact on dental health. Its relevance for both diagnosis and treatment of chronic kidney disease and associated diseases is highlighted by its involvement in renal function and neuroprotection.</p>","PeriodicalId":94016,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in oral health","volume":"6 ","pages":"1523024"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12062178/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144000819","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"From cultural dispositions to biological dimensions: a narrative review on the synergy between oral health and vitamin D through the lens of Indian habitus.","authors":"Sumit Maitra, Hari Charan Behera, Arkopala Bose, Diptendu Chatterjee, Arup Ratan Bandyopadhyay","doi":"10.3389/froh.2025.1569940","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/froh.2025.1569940","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Oral health is intricately related to systemic health, with new worldwide research demonstrating vitamin D's critical role in sustaining dental and periodontal health. Vitamin D regulates calcium and phosphate metabolism, which is required for the formation and maintenance of healthy teeth and bones. According to research, vitamin D deficiency may contribute to the etiology of periodontal disease by decreasing the host immune response, making it more susceptible to infections like gingivitis and periodontitis. Oral health in India is a tapestry of traditional practices, socioeconomic factors, lifestyle factors, and access to modern healthcare, all of which are intricately linked with the concept of habitus, which refers to deeply embedded habits, dispositions, and practices shaped by an individual's social space. Deep-rooted social and cultural influences have a substantial impact on oral hygiene practices, food patterns, and health-seeking behaviours. Oral diseases are considered as a worldwide health issue. Though standard Western medicine has had effectiveness in preventing and treating periodontal diseases and other oral disorders, the hunt for alternative solutions continues, and natural phytochemicals extracted from plants used in traditional medicine are regarded as viable alternatives to synthetic chemicals. India's traditional medical knowledge and practice, take a comprehensive approach to oral health, emphasizing the balance of physiological components and the use of natural treatments to maintain oral hygiene and treat oral disorders. However, the structural integrity of teeth and optimal oral health can be accomplished by combining Indian traditional medical practices with vitamin D supplementation, which has synergistic attributes for gum health, anti-inflammatory effects, and dental caries prevention. Nevertheless, the unique association of oral health, vitamin D deficiency and the habitus from Indian perspective is extremely underrepresented in academia. To the best of our knowledge, in the aforementioned context, the present narrative review is probably the maiden attempt to discern the crosstalk of oral health and Vitamin D from the perspectives of Indian habitus.</p>","PeriodicalId":94016,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in oral health","volume":"6 ","pages":"1569940"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12062093/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144032415","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Mediating factors associated with alcohol intake and periodontal condition.","authors":"Yuto Kusu, Michiko Furuta, Shinya Kageyama, Yoshihisa Yamashita, Toru Takeshita","doi":"10.3389/froh.2025.1524772","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/froh.2025.1524772","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Alcohol consumption has been reported to increase the risk of periodontal disease and various health abnormalities such as obesity, hyperglycemia, and liver abnormalities. While the link between these health abnormalities and periodontal disease has been established, their potential mediating role in the association between alcohol consumption and periodontal disease remains unclear. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the multiple mediating roles of obesity, hyperglycemia, and liver abnormalities in this association.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cross-sectional study was conducted on 6,529 individuals aged 35-64 years who underwent workplace health check-ups in 2003 (mean age: 45.7 ± 8.7 years). The periodontal condition was evaluated using the mean pocket depth (PD), and participants were classified into no, light/moderate (alcohol consumption 0.1-29.9 g/day), and heavy (≥30 g/day) drinking groups. Causal mediation analysis was performed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Heavy drinking had a direct effect on the mean PD. Light/moderate drinking had a indirect effect on the mean PD through the body mass index (BMI), glucose level, alanine aminotransferase level (ALT), with proportion mediated of 25.1%, 8.9%, and 18.9%, respectively. The mediating role of glucose level was found in the association between heavy drinking and the mean PD with proportion mediated of 32.7%.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study confirmed that alcohol consumption was associated with worse periodontal condition among Japanese adults who received workplace health check-ups. This association was partially contributed by several factors such as BMI, glucose level, and ALT.</p>","PeriodicalId":94016,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in oral health","volume":"6 ","pages":"1524772"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12058805/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144052437","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Tooth loss and mortality risk: the mediating role of hs-CRP in a Chinese cohort.","authors":"Donglei Wu, Mingxin Mao, Wei Wang, Henan Zheng, Hongxia You, Weixuan Chen, Ziyang Xu, Yuyan Zheng, Li Yuan","doi":"10.3389/froh.2025.1542147","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/froh.2025.1542147","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This study aimed to evaluate the mediating effect of systemic condition on the relationship between tooth loss and mortality risk.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>A 9-y follow-up prospective longitudinal study was conducted based on China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). The participants aged >45 y at baseline and were followed up from 2011 to 2020. Cox proportional hazards models were utilized to assess the relationship between tooth loss and both all-cause mortality with hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) reported with adjusted possible confounders. Systemic inflammation markers, including high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and white blood cell count (WBCs), were collected from CHARLS blood sample data. A mediation analysis was conducted to determine the role of hs-CRP and WBCs in the relationship between tooth loss and mortality.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 13,201 participants met the inclusion criteria, of which 964 had tooth loss and 12,237 did not. During a median follow-up of 8.7 years, The multivariable-adjusted Cox regression models. The subgroup analysis indicated that the association was found to be stronger among older adults (≥80 years) (HR: 1.62, 95% CI: 1.09-2.41) and males (HR: 1.80, 95% CI: 1.34-2.40). Additionally, the mediation analysis result has showed that serum hs-CRP level rather WBC count mediated 3% of this effect.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Complete tooth loss is associated with higher mortality in the Chinese population, with systemic inflammation (hs-CRP) as a mediator.</p>","PeriodicalId":94016,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in oral health","volume":"6 ","pages":"1542147"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12058789/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144029146","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Frontiers in oral healthPub Date : 2025-04-24eCollection Date: 2025-01-01DOI: 10.3389/froh.2025.1584382
Andy Wai Kan Yeung
{"title":"Literature review of the portrayal of dentists and teeth in movies.","authors":"Andy Wai Kan Yeung","doi":"10.3389/froh.2025.1584382","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/froh.2025.1584382","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>There are multiple portrayals of dentists and teeth in movies. It is largely unclear if the literature has investigated these portrayals. This literature review aimed to identify and analyze the themes, narratives, and symbolic meanings associated with dental portrayal in movies from the existing literature.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Online literature databases, Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed, were searched to identify relevant papers labelled as articles or reviews. Publications were included if they described or investigated the portrayal of dentists or teeth in multiple commercial movies. Publications were excluded if they were irrelevant to this topic or provided commentary on a single movie only. Finally, 7 publications were identified and reviewed. For each publication, its study design, data source, and genres of movies analyzed were recorded. Key findings were reviewed, such as themes or stereotypes identified, positive vs. negative portrayals, and any impact on public perception elaborated.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>These papers were published between 2007 and 2024. Five of them provided qualitative content analysis, whereas 2 provided quantitative content analysis. Three publications consulted Internet Movie Database (IMDb) to identify relevant movies. Many of the publications did not explicitly report very detailed inclusion and exclusion criteria for the selection of movies. The portrayal of dentists was covered in 5 publications. The symbolic meaning of teeth was covered in 2 publications. (One publication covered both dentist portrayal and teeth symbolism.) Scenes of oral hygiene practice were investigated in 1 publication.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The portrayal of dentists in movies has often been negative, which may influence public perception and contribute to dental anxiety. Future research should investigate the impact of these portrayals on audience attitudes and behavior, as this review underscores the need for more empirical studies in this area. Meanwhile, readers should notice that one major limitation of this review is the small number of publications included.</p>","PeriodicalId":94016,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in oral health","volume":"6 ","pages":"1584382"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12058483/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144032236","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Frontiers in oral healthPub Date : 2025-04-24eCollection Date: 2025-01-01DOI: 10.3389/froh.2025.1581583
Shareef Araidy, George Batshon, Roman Mirochnik, Imad Abu El-Naaj
{"title":"The calcified Sphenomandibular ligament: case report, surgical management and literature review.","authors":"Shareef Araidy, George Batshon, Roman Mirochnik, Imad Abu El-Naaj","doi":"10.3389/froh.2025.1581583","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/froh.2025.1581583","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Calcification of the Sphenomandibular ligament (SML) is an extremely rare condition, with only three previously documented cases worldwide. This report presents the fourth known case of SML calcification in a 32-year-old male patient with a 17-year history of progressive trismus. Following a dental procedure involving a mandibular nerve block, the patient gradually developed limited mouth opening, which was resistant to conservative treatments. Imaging revealed calcification of the SML, which was confirmed intraoperatively. Surgical excision led to a significant improvement in mandibular function. This report discusses clinical presentation, diagnostic workup, surgical management, and a comprehensive literature review, emphasizing the importance of considering rare ligamentous pathologies in cases of persistent trismus.</p>","PeriodicalId":94016,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in oral health","volume":"6 ","pages":"1581583"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12060255/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144000823","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Frontiers in oral healthPub Date : 2025-04-23eCollection Date: 2025-01-01DOI: 10.3389/froh.2025.1544921
Muhammad Osama, Cyril Kocherry, Farid Ullah, Safiyyah Ubaid, Maryam Ubaid, Ubaid Ullah, Aishah Binte Nawaz, Hanan M Qasem, Ramez M Odat, Muzammil Farhan, Raheel Ahmed
{"title":"Odontogenic carcinosarcoma: a comprehensive review of clinical and therapeutic insights.","authors":"Muhammad Osama, Cyril Kocherry, Farid Ullah, Safiyyah Ubaid, Maryam Ubaid, Ubaid Ullah, Aishah Binte Nawaz, Hanan M Qasem, Ramez M Odat, Muzammil Farhan, Raheel Ahmed","doi":"10.3389/froh.2025.1544921","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/froh.2025.1544921","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Malignant odontogenic tumors are rare, accounting for only 1%-6.1% of all odontogenic tumors. Among them, odontogenic carcinosarcoma (OCS) is an exceptionally rare and aggressive malignant neoplasm originating from dental tissues. First recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1992, OCS is characterized by high-grade biphasic malignant epithelial and mesenchymal components, contributing to its aggressive clinical behavior. OCS often presents with nonspecific symptoms such as pain, swelling, and loosening of teeth, which complicate early diagnosis. Its rarity adds to the diagnostic challenges, frequently leading to delays in identification. Histopathological evaluation remains the cornerstone for accurate diagnosis, distinguishing OCS from other odontogenic tumors through features like epithelial nuclear pleomorphism, mitotic activity, and mesenchymal sarcomatous differentiation. Management typically involves surgical resection with clear margins, while adjuvant therapies such as chemotherapy and radiation are considered in select cases. Recent advancements in molecular oncology and surgical techniques, including robotic-assisted procedures and 3D-printed reconstructive aids, offer promising avenues for improving patient outcomes. A multidisciplinary approach and ongoing research are essential to enhance diagnostic accuracy, refine treatment protocols, and improve the prognosis for patients affected by this rare malignancy. The primary objective of this review is to consolidate current knowledge on OCS, focusing on its diagnostic complexities, treatment strategies, and potential emerging therapies.</p>","PeriodicalId":94016,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in oral health","volume":"6 ","pages":"1544921"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12055786/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144035623","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Frontiers in oral healthPub Date : 2025-04-23eCollection Date: 2025-01-01DOI: 10.3389/froh.2025.1565325
Ying Liu, Chenyang Niu, Minghui Chu, Mingda Liu, Yanxia Chi
{"title":"The preparation and characterization of graphene oxide-multiwalled minocycline coatings on ultrafine-grained titanium implants for enhanced performance studies.","authors":"Ying Liu, Chenyang Niu, Minghui Chu, Mingda Liu, Yanxia Chi","doi":"10.3389/froh.2025.1565325","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/froh.2025.1565325","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>As the dental implant restoration technology is constantly applied and developed, implant fracture and related infections have emerged as significant factors threatening the long-term outcome of implants. Hence, this experiment intends to bestow the implant itself with anti-fracture and antibacterial capabilities by utilizing ultrafine-grained titanium, which possesses relatively superior mechanical properties, as the implant material and depositing a graphene oxide-minocycline composite coating on its surface. This is done to prevent implant fracture and the initial attachment of early microorganisms, and to strive to impede the colonization of late microorganisms and the formation of infectious biofilms, thereby achieving long-term stability of the implant. The graphene oxide-minocycline composite coating can be successfully fabricated on the surface of ultrafine-grained titanium via electrochemical deposition and liquid-phase deposition techniques, which can enhance the hydrophilicity of ultrafine-grained titanium and exhibit good coating adhesion. It demonstrates excellent antibacterial properties against <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>, has no <i>in vitro</i> hemolysis, and shows no obvious cytotoxicity to mouse pre-osteoblasts.</p>","PeriodicalId":94016,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in oral health","volume":"6 ","pages":"1565325"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12055806/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144012097","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Frontiers in oral healthPub Date : 2025-04-23eCollection Date: 2025-01-01DOI: 10.3389/froh.2025.1568393
Salma Kabbashi, Yvonne Prince, Ndonwi Elvis Ngwa, Haly Holmes, Saarah F G Davids, Manogari Chetty
{"title":"Feasibility and preliminary findings of a bacterial diversity study in periodontitis: a pilot investigation from the Western Cape.","authors":"Salma Kabbashi, Yvonne Prince, Ndonwi Elvis Ngwa, Haly Holmes, Saarah F G Davids, Manogari Chetty","doi":"10.3389/froh.2025.1568393","DOIUrl":"10.3389/froh.2025.1568393","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Periodontitis is a significant health challenge caused by a complex interaction between bacterial infection, host immune response, and environmental factors, leading to tooth loss, bone loss, and potential associations with major systemic diseases and conditions. While the determinants of periodontitis have been extensively investigated in other populations, such studies are lacking in South Africa, which represents a high-risk population. Therefore, this study was conducted to characterize the subgingival bacterial biodiversity in the periodontal pockets of patients with periodontitis in a Western Cape population.</p><p><strong>Materials & methods: </strong>Pooled subgingival plaque samples were collected from the deepest pocket/crevices of five periodontitis cases and five controls using sterile paper points. Illumina MiSeq paired-end sequencing and QIIME2 software were employed for sequence filtration and analysis. Several alpha and beta-diversity metrics assessed biodiversity within-sample and population structure between different microbiota datasets, respectively. Statistical significance for alpha diversity was tested using the Kruskal-Wallis H test (<i>p</i> < 0.05), and beta diversity differences were evaluated using PERMANOVA. Data visualization, including beta diversity plots, was conducted with the Phyloseq package in R.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Beta-diversity measures revealed significant differences between periodontitis cases and controls (<i>p</i>-value = 0.04), whereas alpha-diversity was higher in cases, though without statistical significance (<i>p</i>-value ≥ 0.05). Cases group showed high relative abundance of <i>Fusobacterium</i> (16%), <i>Porphyromonas</i> (10%), and <i>Treponema</i> (9%), while the periodontally healthy controls were dominated by <i>Streptococcus</i> (20%), <i>Fusobacterium</i> (15%), and <i>Veillonella</i> (10%), with <i>g_Streptococcus</i> showing a significant difference (<i>p</i>-value = 0.008). Differential abundance analysis revealed distinct bacterial genera enriched in cases (<i>Bulleidia</i>, <i>Peptoanaerobacter</i>, <i>Phocaeiola</i>, <i>W5053</i>) and controls (<i>Abiotrophia</i>, <i>Haemophilus</i>, <i>Lautropia</i>, <i>Rothia</i>, <i>Streptococcus</i>). Sample-specific variations included higher levels of <i>Porphyromonas</i> (15%) in grade B and <i>Fusobacterium</i> (20%) in grade C.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This exploratory study highlights distinct bacterial communities associated with periodontitis in a South African population. The findings emphasize the need for larger, population-based cohorts to validate these results and lay a foundation for future research into region-specific microbial profiles and their implications for personalized treatment strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":94016,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in oral health","volume":"6 ","pages":"1568393"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12055840/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144061269","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}