Butterfly effect in periodontology; can we control the initial condition to prevent periodontal disease?

While applying linear models to human systems and their elements has improved our understanding of their structure and function, such models often fall short of explaining experimental results or predicting future abnormalities in complex nonlinear systems. Starting from the fact that the periodontium is a complex system in the body, this paper demonstrates possible reflection of chaos theory and the concept of butterfly effect in the field of periodontology. The application of sub-antimicrobial-dose Doxycycline (SDD), as an initial turning point and a host modulator factor, to prevent further progression of the periodontal disease, has been briefly discussed, and a possible mathematical model for the action of SDD has been demonstrated as well. Linear and nonlinear modeling will serve a complementary role in explaining simple and complex system behavior manifest within human systems. Knowledge of chaos may also prove valuable in managing illness. Correspondence to: Aous Dannan, Department of Periodontology, Faculty of Dentistry, Syrian Private University, Damascus, Syria; E-mail: [email protected]