Abstract

Periodontal disease, caused by bacterial biofilms (plaques) on tooth surfaces, is one of the major causes of tooth loss in adults. The current method of treatment involves a labour-intensive, unpleasant scraping away of the plaque from within the periodontal pocket¹. With the recognition that this disease is associated with specific organisms, increasing interest is being shown in the use of anti-microbial agents to kill the bacteria in situ.

© 1996 IEEE