[The role of tartar in the light of the modern clinical-epidemiological, morphological and immunological studies].

After the public recognition of the dental plaque as the primary etiological factor for the diseases of gingiva and periodontium, the tartar is the object of comparatively small number of studies. The author discusses the publications during the last 25 years, grouping the results from the epidemiological, clinical, morphological and immunological studies. Throwing light on new aspects of the pathogenetic role of the tartar in maintaining and chronification of the gingival inflammation as well as in osseous resorption, puts new accent on the necessity of its removal in prophylaxis and therapy. The importance of tartar as a reservoir of antigen substances associated with the total reactivity of macro-organisms is stressed upon.