Recent Advances in Role of Matrix metalloproteinases in Some Dental Diseases

The common types of dental diseases are caries, periapical, pulpitis, gingivitis, oral infectious diseases and hereditary lesions. These chronic diseases are supposed to be due to interaction between the bacteria in oral cavity and the host. The progression of these diseases needs some major changes in the biochemistry and physiology of connective tissues where different types of collagens are present. In dental diseases the specific collagen is degenerated/lost in connective tissue probably due to matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), reactive oxygen species (ROS), apoptosis and antioxidants. In this short review we discussed only the role MMPs in dental carries and periodontitis.