Clinical applications for host modulatory therapy.

A better understanding of the pathogenesis of periodontitis has resulted in pharmacotherapeutic advancements that address both the microbes and the host response, leading to improved management of this chronic progressive disease by the dental practitioner. The adjunctive use of host modulatory therapy can enhance therapeutic responses, slow the progression of the disease, and allow for more predictable management of patients, particularly in those patients at increased risk caused by factors beyond the reach of conventional therapeutic approaches. This article reviews the pathogenesis and risk factors associated with periodontitis and addresses, in detail, the concept and clinical use of host modulation as a therapeutic strategy.