Diversity of the oral fungal biofilm, and its associations with oral bacteria and periodontitis among high-risk Hispanic communities

. We aim to characterize the bacterial and fungal oral communities of the participants, according to periodontal disease severity, while associating it with other variables such as lifestyle and clinical history of patients. Participants will provide saliva samples for oral microbiome analysis and full-mouth periodontal examination will be performed following the NHANES protocol. Periodontitis will be defined according to the Centers for Disease Control/American Academy of Periodontology (CDC/AAP). Socio-demographic, behavioral, dental, and medical characteristics will be collected through an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Other risk factors for oral cancer will be collected using the audio computer-assisted self-interview (ACASI) methodology. In depth research on the oral microbiome in high-risk Hispanics is essential for the development of prevention and treatment strategies.