This is a textbook of general and oral microbiology for dental students that is also useful for those taking postgraduate dentistry exams.

Introduction. Bacterial structure and taxonomy. Bacterial physiology and genetics. Viral structure, taxonomy and replication. Pathogenesis of microbial disease. Diagnostic microbiology. Laboratory methods. Antimicrobial chemotherapy. Streptococci and pneumococci. Staphylococci. Lactobacilli. Corynebacteria and propionobacteria. Actinomycetes. Clostridia and Bacillus species. Neisseriae, branhamellae and veillonellae. Enterobacteria. Parvobacteria and capnocytophaga. Vibrios, campylobacters and wolinellae. Bacteroides, porphyromonads and prevotellae. Fusobacteria and leptotrichia. Spirochaetes. Legionellae. Mycobacteria. Chlamidiae, rickettsiae and mycoplasmas. Viruses of relevance to dentistry. Fungi of relevance to dentistry. The immune system. The immune response. Immunity and infection. Infections of the respiratory tract. Infections of the cardiovascular system. Infections of the central nervous system and locomotor system. Infections of the gastrointestinal tract. Infections of the genitourinary tract. Skin and wound infections. Infections in compromised patients. Viral hepatitis. Human immunodeficiency virus infection and the acquired immune deficiency syndrome. Normal oral flora. Oral ecosystem and dental plaque. Microbiology of dental caries. Microbiology of periodontal disease. Dentoalveolar infections. Oral mucosal infections. Salivary gland infections. Principles of infection control. Infection control procedures. Sterilisation and disinfection.