The red complex is a group of
bacteria
Bacteria (; singular: bacterium) are ubiquitous, mostly free-living organisms often consisting of one biological cell. They constitute a large domain of prokaryotic microorganisms. Typically a few micrometres in length, bacteria were am ...
that are categorized together based on their association with severe forms of
periodontal disease
Periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, is a set of inflammatory conditions affecting the tissues surrounding the teeth. In its early stage, called gingivitis, the gums become swollen and red and may bleed. It is considered the main cau ...
.
The red complex—among a number of other
complexes—were classified by
Sigmund Socransky in 1998.
The three members of the red complex are:
# ''
Porphyromonas gingivalis''
# ''
Tannerella forsythia
''Tannerella forsythia'' is an anaerobic, Gram-negative bacterial species of the Bacteroidota phylum. It has been implicated in periodontal diseases and is a member of the red complex of periodontal pathogens. ''T. forsythia'' was previous ...
''
# ''
Treponema denticola''
References
{{dentistry-stub
Periodontology