Treponema denticola
BacteriaA red complex spirochete bacterium associated with advanced periodontal disease.
This is information about your result, not a diagnosis. Your provider can tell you what it means for you.
What is Treponema denticola?
T. denticola is a spiral-shaped (spirochete) bacterium found in deep periodontal pockets. As a member of the red complex, it is strongly associated with severe forms of periodontitis. It is highly motile and can penetrate gum tissue.
Why it matters
T. denticola is often found together with P. gingivalis and T. forsythia, and the three together are associated with more serious gum disease. It produces enzymes that break down connective tissue and can dampen the immune response.
What a high result can mean
A high level is associated with active gum disease, especially alongside the other red complex bacteria. Several of them high at once is associated with a higher chance of the gums pulling away from the teeth.
What usually happens next
Treatment often involves a professional deep cleaning, sometimes with an antibiotic. Your dentist will decide what fits, based on all of your results and your exam.
Related markers
Porphyromonas gingivalis
A key “red complex” bacterium strongly linked to severe periodontal disease.
Tannerella forsythia
The third member of the red complex, consistently found in progressive periodontal lesions.
Interleukin-1 beta
A key inflammatory mediator that triggers bone resorption in periodontal disease.
This page explains what the test measures. It is not a diagnosis, and it cannot tell you what your result means for you. Your provider can.