Gingivitis or periodontitis (involving alveolar bone loss) is the major cause of tooth loss in adults [1]. It is most commonly associated with bacterial biofilm commonly known as plaque. The interactions between host defense mechanisms and plaque lead to plaque buildup. Poor dental hygiene, hormonal shifts in pregnancy, diabetes, human immunodeficiency virus, and some medication, such as phenytoin, calcium channel blockers, and cyclosporin, can further increase plaque buildup [2, 3]. Patients with periodontitis are at higher risks for cardiovascular diseases [4], low birth weight [5] among others [6].
Chronic periodontitis is the most common form of periodontitis, is plaque-induced and is a major cause of tooth loss [7]. Active bone loss can be triggered by changing oral bacteria flora.
In this issue, the report by Ashwin Kumar R et al. [8] described a technique targeting prolyl tripeptidyl peptidase from
Therefore, the discovery of new drugs for public health use involves a healthy interaction between scientists, academia, patent laws, and regulatory agencies. Prevention should be the primary strategy that is potentially the most cost-effective way to cope with this common disease. Some initial strategies should be adopted, such as oral hygiene, smoking cessation, and frequent oral examination, to identify the early lesion and early treatment.