Periodontal vaccine: A therapeutic modality on the horizon?

Periodontal diseases with their poly microbial etiology, are a major cause of tooth mortality in the adult population. Current treatment modalities have resulted only in arresting the disease progression but have not cured the disease completely, nor do they prevent the recurrence. Hence there is a need for more sophisticated therapeutic modalities which may include vaccines targeting putative periodontal pathogens. No periodontal vaccine trials have been successful in satisfying all requirements of an ideal periodontal vaccine. Periodontal vaccines could emerge as an adjunct to mechanical therapy in future.