Application of probiotics as a constituent element of non-surgical periodontal therapy for cases with chronic periodontitis

Abstract Background Non-surgical periodontal therapy includes not only the local curettage of tartar and bacterial plaque, but also aims to remove "bubbling" bacteria in saliva or gingival fluid, which cause the creation of bacterial plaque and therefore also chronic periodontitis. In the final stage, the indication for giving or not prescribing antibiotics depends on the clinical course of the disease. Probiotics can serve as helpers in the "fight" against the causative pathogenic bacteria, but with the specificity of application in the intermediate stages and not in the final stage of non-surgical periodontal treatment. Main body of the abstract The study is of the review type with the aim of selecting articles published in PubMed in a period of 5 years about the topic of probiotics and their application in non-surgical periodontal therapy for the treatment of chronic periodontitis. The selection of articles was carried out based on the combination of key words. The selected articles were 23 and then classified based on the clinical periodontal parameters that have been studied and the positive, positive/negative or negative attitude about the application or not of probiotics for the treatment of chronic periodontitis as a companion to non-surgical periodontal therapy. Non-concrete well-defined results are observed on the type of dosage and method of application of probiotics, being accompanied by non-concrete results both locally in the affected periodontal areas, but also systemic in the patient's serum. Short conclusion Correct application protocols of probiotics for treatment of chronic periodontitis, but also of other periodontal pathologies, have “the advantage” of avoiding the prescription of systemic antibiotics, in the conditions of increased resistance to them. The effects of probiotics when applied even in the first stages of non-surgical therapy are mainly visible in the reduction of infection inflammation, the most mentioned and most visible results, based on the data published in the literature. More data are required in this regard.