CLINICAL-FEATURES OF EARLY-ONSET PERIODONTITIS

The authors estimate the prevalence of early-onset periodontitis, or E OP, in U.S. adolescents and describe the clinical features that occur at an early stage in those who have EOP. In 1986 and 1987, about 10.0 percent of African-American, 5.0 percent of Hispanic and 1.3 percent o f white U.S. adolescents had ECP. Clinical features that may be useful in the early detection of EOP include overt gingival inflammation, de ntal calculus and a high rate of caries, restorations and tooth loss.