The central theme of this volume of Periodontology 2000 is that the microbial dental plaque biofilm, specifically the subgingival dental plaque biofilm, mimics a human tissue in both structure and function. As a basis for this assertion we use the definition of a tissue as an aggregate of similar cells and cell products forming a defined structure with a specific function, in a multicellular organism. Accordingly, we propose that the dental plaque biofilm represents an acquired human tissue largely of bacterial origin that maintains the health of gingival tissue. Furthermore, we acknowledge that disease can be defined as a deviation from the normal structure or an interruption to the function of any body part, organ, or system, and that is manifested by a characteristic set of symptoms and signs whose etiology, pathology, and prognosis may be known or unknown. Therefore, in this volume we present the concept that periodontitis is a disruption of the normal function of the healthy subgingival plaque biofilm with concomitant disruption to its functional properties in relation to innate defense surveillance and tissue maintenance, leading to excessive, deregulated inflammation and tissue destruction.

中文翻译：

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重新审视口腔生物膜：细菌学起源的新型宿主组织

《牙周病学 2000》本卷的中心主题是微生物牙菌斑生物膜，特别是龈下牙菌斑生物膜，在结构和功能上都模仿人体组织。作为这一主张的基础，我们使用组织的定义：在多细胞生物体中，相似细胞和细胞产物形成具有特定功能的确定结构的集合体。因此，我们认为牙菌斑生物膜代表了主要由细菌来源的后天人体组织，可维持牙龈组织的健康。此外，我们承认疾病可以定义为任何身体部位、器官或系统的正常结构的偏离或功能的中断，并且表现为一组特征性的症状和体征，其病因学、病理学和预后可能是已知的或未知的。因此，在本卷中，我们提出了这样的概念：牙周炎是健康龈下菌斑生物膜正常功能的破坏，同时破坏其与先天防御监视和组织维护相关的功能特性，导致过度的、失调的炎症和组织破坏。