TREATMENT OF PERIODONTAL-DISEASE BASED ON MICROBIOLOGICAL DIAGNOSIS -A 5-YEAR FOLLOW-UP ON INDIVIDUAL PATTERNS

SIXTEEN PATIENTS WITH ADVANCED PERIODONTITIS (more than 3 sites with a probing depth greater than or equal to 6 mm) were treated with the ai m of eliminating Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans and Porphyromona s gingivalis and reducing Prevotella intermedia below 5% of the total viable count. The patients were followed clinically and microbiologica lly for over 5 years and showed a highly individual pattern with respe ct to presence of indicator bacteria, type of treatment needed to acco mplish treatment goals, clinical response, and bacterial and disease r ecurrencies. The results of this study suggest that presence of the in dicator bacteria in microbial samples taken after treatment may identi fy patients at risk for recurrent periodontitis.