The Use of Phage Therapy in Reduction of Oral Cavity Bacteria: A Literature Review

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this abstract is to describe how the use of phage therapy can be used to effectively target oral bacteria such as Streptococcus mutans, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, and Enterococcus faecalis with minimal side effects to patients. These particular bacteria are important components in the process of caries formation, periodontal disease, and failed endodontic treatment. METHODS: A search of Pubmed was conducted for peer-reviewed randomized control trials, clinical trials, and studies that were less than five years old. The keywords used to find relevant articles were: bacteria, oral bacteria, phage therapy, bacteriophage therapy, pathogenic bacteria, and dental bacteria. RESULTS: The studies that were reviewed demonstrated phage therapy to be effective in reducing oral bacteria commonly responsible for dental caries, periodontal disease, and failed endodontic treatment. The first study showed the isolated phage, SMHBZ8, targeted S. mutans and reduced both biofilm formation and demineralization of enamel. The second study demonstrated the ability of a lysogenic bacteriophage, S1249, to be induced into the lytic cycle in human serum and effectively eliminate A. actinomycetemcomitans, a bacteria implicated in aggressive periodontal disease and known to be resistant to serum. The third study found a phage, PEf771, targeting E. faecalis in endodontically treated teeth with refractory periapical periodontitis was found to have greater substantivity and antibiotic properties than traditional medicaments used in root canal treatment. CONCLUSIONS: These studies prove the viability of phage therapy as a treatment modality in targeting pathogens that contribute to major oral diseases. Benefits of phage therapy include low toxicity, high specificity, biofilm penetrating capabilities, and the ability to continuously replicate in the presence of target bacteria. IMPLICATIONS: With more research to include human trials, phage therapy could prove to be a cost-effective alternative to conventional treatments in dentistry with fewer side effects to patients. Current treatment options for these oral diseases carry risks such as antibiotic resistance, staining, and toxicity. The ability of bacteriophage to target caries-causing bacteria such as S. mutans while sparing commensal bacteria is promising for preventive dentistry while the specificity and replicating abilities are desirable for eliminating periodontal and endodontic pathogens. The use of bacteriophage in dentistry could be adapted for delivery as a rinse, dentifrice, varnish, or targeted delivery system.