Periodontitis, a biofilm-associated inflammatory disease of the periodontium, is a major cause of tooth loss in the world. This disease appears to have multiple etiologies, the most studied of which are microbial and immunological. The primary microbial factor contributing to disease is a shift in the content of the oral microflora, while the primary immunological factor is the destructive host inflammatory response. Several techniques have been used clinically to treat periodontitis, but the most successful ones appear to address both the bacterial and inflammatory components of the condition. Therefore, this review will detail the microbial and molecular nature of periodontitis, and it will also compare the efficacy of traditional and emerging technologies for treating this costly disease.