Abstract: A colorimetric assay system for diagnosing periodontal disease utilizes a chromogenic test substance for measuring proteolytic activity in a specimen such as subgingival plaque which may contain suspected periodontopathogenic bacteria. The chromogenic test substance comprises a peptide substrate which is hydrolyzable by proteolytic enzymes in the plaque specimen to release a chromophore. Detection of a color change in the test substance indicates whether such proteolytic activity is present. In a specific illustrative embodiment, the chromogenic test substance comprises N-benzoyl-DL-arginine-2-naphthylamide (BANA) or benzoyl-DL-arginine-p-nitroanilide (BAPNA). In the case of BANA, for example, the chromophore, .beta.-naphthylamide, is detected by the addition of a color developer, such as fast garnet. The development of a red-orange color is interpreted to indicate the presence of periodontal disease associated with anaerobic periodontopathogens, such as B. gingivalis, T. denticola, and B.

Abstract: A colorimetric assay for diagnosis of periodontal disease is carried out by using a chromogenic test substance which is hydrolyzed by trypsin-like enzymes produced by periodontopathogenic bacteria in a sample specimen of subgingival plaque to release a chromophore. The presence of periodontal disease is thus indicated by a color change. The results of this assay are reliable provided at least a minimum number of microorganisms, on the order of 1,000,000 to 10,000,000, are present in the specimen. This assay determines whether the specimen includes the requisite number of microorganisms so that false negative results are not occasioned as a result of inadequate specimen size. Enzymatic activity of microorganisms in the specimen, illustratively phosphatase or peptidase enzymes, indicates specimen size sufficiency by the release of a chromophore from a nonspecific chromogenic test substance.

Abstract: A composition for periodontal administration and a method of periodontal treatment involving a slow release device which can be placed directly into the periodontal pocket where metronidazole, with or without antioxidants, are released over periods of days to weeks at a cidal concentration for anaerobes in the domain of the periodontal pocket.