[Do new diagnostic tests improve the differential diagnosis and therapy of periodontitis? A review].

: New diagnostic tools give access to information that was previously not available by classical clinical means. This includes methods for the determination of the composition of the microbial flora or for monitoring specific reactions of host tissues to the accumulation of plaque. DNA-probes, monoclonal antibodies and enzyme assays have already been advertised and are sold to dentists. The practical value of new tests depends upon the possibility to improve the efficacy of treatment based on previously inaccessible information. This paper reviews frequently raised clinical questions, the possible answers coming from new diagnostica, and the potential impact of this knowledge on periodontal therapy.