The biological aspects of oral pathogenicity.

The bacteria in the oral region tend to localize in the form of plaque deposits on tooth surfaces and in gingival crevices. The "metabolic nature" of this complex flora focuses on the reversible interactions between the plaque flora and their environmental modifications. The environmental circumstances will influence the range of expression in situ for the plaque (oral) organisms. Then, it is suggested that the potential for caries induction or periodontal disease may develop when conditions approaching extremes of environment result in altered metabolism and antigenicity of particular oral organisms.