P. gingivalis: The key bacterium of periodontitis
Porphyromonas gingivalis is a keystone pathogen in periodontitis. Although present only in small quantities, it influences the entire bacterial balance: it alters the behavior of other bacteria, enhances their pathogenic effects, and weakens the natural defense mechanisms. This results in a persistent inflammatory response that, in the long term, leads to tissue and bone loss – the typical consequences of periodontitis.