MMPs in oral diseases.

MMPs are essential for the physiological tissue turnover within the oral cavity and maxillofacial structures but their dysregulation may lead to pathogenic, tissue-destructive oral diseases. Within oral tissues, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are produced by a variety of cells, including fibroblasts, keratinocytes, epithelial cells, immune cells, osteoclasts, osteoblasts, and odontoblasts. Activation of MMPs in periodontal tissues degrades extracellular matrix components which may lead to periodontal attachment loss and alveolar bone destruction. Various MMPs serve as putative biomarkers in dental diseases, and their levels can be easily measured from oral fluids. In addition to their role in periodontal manifestations, MMPs are associated with caries, pulpal inflammation, oral potentially malignant disorders and cancers. MMP inhibitors and chairside test measuring active MMP8 have demonstrated potential clinical usability in adjunctive periodontal therapy and diagnostics. In the next chapters, we discuss the importance and function of MMPs and their use as biomarkers in oral diseases.