In their recent Primer article (Periodontal diseases. Nat. Rev. Dis. Primers 3, 17038 (2017))1, Denis F. Kinane and colleagues provide an important and comprehensive update on the pathogenesis, diagnosis, management and strategies of prevention of periodontal and peri-implant diseases. In this context, and in view of the latest advances in translational research on periodontal and peri-implant disease biomarkers, quantitative point-of-care (POC) technologies are emerging as new tools to target periodontitis and peri-implantitis. In particular, these technologies could help to pinpoint the crucial transition of gingivitis or subclinical periodontitis without clinical or radiographic manifestations to active periodontal disease, with progressive deepened pockets and attachment loss2.

As stated in the Primer, the diagnosis of periodontal and peri-implant diseases is mainly based on the clinical measurements of pocket depth, attachment loss and bleeding on probing, together with radiographic examination. These diagnostic procedures can assess only past tissue destruction and do not provide any information about the current disease status or future progression. The accurate assessment of disease progression by conventional clinical and radiographic means is further complicated by the episodic progression of the disease course. Neutrophil collagenase, also known as matrix metalloproteinase 8 (MMP8), has been identified as a major collagenolytic enzyme that causes periodontal tissue destruction in periodontitis and peri-implantitis, as well as being found in gingival crevicular fluid, peri-implant sulcular fluid, mouth rinse and saliva2. A key characteristic of active periodontal disease is the pathological elevation of the levels and activation of MMP8 in oral fluids, which was not covered in extensive detail in the Primer.

Indeed, a quantitative POC activated MMP8 (aMMP8) oral fluid test has been repeatedly and independently validated in Finland, Germany, Nigeria, Turkey, the Netherlands and the United States to successfully screen susceptible sites and patients, differentiate active and inactive periodontal sites, predict the future disease progression and monitor treatment response and maintenance therapy3–8, with a diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of 76–83% and 96%, respectively, and a turnaround time of 5–7 minutes. Furthermore, the test can identify initial periodontitis in genetically predisposed adolescents5. Thus, the aMMP8 test is effective in both adolescent and adult populations3,4. The predictive value of the test lies in its ability to detect subclinical periodontitis before clinical or X-ray manifestations, as the test is positive (that is, aMMP8 level in oral fluids is elevated) ahead of active periodontal disease9–13. The test is, therefore, very suitable for monitoring disease progression and tailoring preventive and therapeutic measures14. The aMMP8 test is inexpensive, easy to use (the results are automated and, therefore, independent of the practitioner's experience) and currently available for routine use by dental and medical professionals linking these disciplines3–5,8,15. Finally, we agree with the authors of the Primer that additional work, especially on the prognostic value of biomarkers in periodontal and peri-implant diseases, is still required.

How to cite this article

Sorsa, T., Gieselmann, D., Arweiler, N. B. & Hernández, M. A quantitative point-of-care test for periodontal and dental peri-implant diseases. Nat. Rev. Dis. Primers 3, 17069 (2017).