Abstract
The human oral cavity presents as an exceptional microbiological environment from other surfaces of the body. This environment allows for the extended colonization and development of microbial communities. It is essential to gain a complete understanding of all the microbes within the oral flora to better define the role of plaque as the primary cause of periodontitis. This review will provide an insight into effective methods to evaluate the cause and pathogenesis of periodontal diseases. The following information provides a summary of the primary research techniques that have been employed in the effort to describe the natural and pathologic flora of human gingival sites. Discovery and refinement of these methods have led to the development of our current research methods. Copyright (C) 2015 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.