The Effect of Denitrification in the Human Dental Biofilm on Oral Tissues

Global oral health surveys reveal that periodontal disease and dental caries affect human populations throughout the world. Denitrification plays both positive and negative roles in these disease processes by producing by-products that alter the oral environment, change the oral ecological balance, and the oral tissue immune response. Nitrate reduction may have a detrimental effect on the tooth supporting structures if the by-products of reduction are not neutralized. However, the nitrogen oxide by-products are beneficial in reducing dental caries. In this paper, we review the process of denitrification and its effect on the oral tissues.