Helicobacter pylori in the oral cavity. A critical review of the literature.

Helicobacter pylori is now generally accepted as a key etiologic agent in peptic ulcer disease as well as in gastric cancer. Dental plaque has been implicated as a possible source of H. pylori by studies that used culture, biochemical, nucleic acid, and immunologic analyses. Variation in the sensitivities of detection by these different reported assays may reflect the methods used, technical difficulties, microbiota complexes, geographic distribution, and host response. The finding of H. pylori in dental plaque also suggested that dental workers may be at increased risk of acquiring H. pylori infection from occupational exposure. We review the available data concerning the presence of this important pathogen in the oral cavity and its potential to be acquired by dental workers. Knowledge of this organism's route of transmission may aid in the development of therapeutic procedures to stop its potential spread.