PUTATIVE PERIODONTAL PATHOGENS IN SUBGINGIVAL PLAQUE OF YOUNG-ADULTS WITH AND WITHOUT EARLY-ONSET PERIODONTITIS

THIS STUDY ASSESSED THE ASSOCIATIONS between putative periodontal path ogens and early-onset periodontitis (EOP) in a population of 248 subje cts, 13 to 19 years of age at baseline, derived from a representative sample of U.S. young adults. The subjects were selected based on the p resence or absence of attachment loss at baseline. The attachment leve l was assessed clinically at baseline and at a 6-year follow-up examin ation, and the presence of 7 bacterial species was assessed at follow- up using DNA probes. The individuals were classified into generalized, localized, incidental EOP, and no-periodontitis groups based on the e xtent and severity of attachment loss; and classified as having rapid, moderate, slow, and no progression based on the rate of periodontal p rogression during the 6 preceding years. In the EOP groups there were significantly higher percentages of individuals with detectable levels of Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia, Fusobacterium nuc leatum, Campylobacter rectus, and Treponema denticola. In addition, th e EOP group had significantly higher levels of these 5 microorganisms compared to the no-periodontitis group. There were also higher percent ages of individuals with these species and higher levels of bacteria i n the group showing disease progression than the group without progres sion. In a descending order of importance, P. gingivalis, T. denticola , and P. intermedia were the microorganisms significantly associated w ith the generalized and/or rapidly progressing disease. F. nucleatum a nd C. rectus were also associated with EOP, but to a lesser degree. In the present population Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans was not s ignificantly associated with EOP, though it was recovered more often f rom subjects with localized EOP. Eikenella corrodens was present equal ly in subjects with and without disease. The results show that several bacterial species are associated with EOP, and that P. gingivalis and T. denticola are of particular importance and may play a significant role in the more severe and progressive forms of EOP.