SEQUENTIAL MANIFESTATION OF DIFFERENT FORMS OF EARLY-ONSET PERIODONTITIS - A CASE-REPORT

PATHOGENIC BACTERIA CONSTITUTE THE PRIMARY EXTRINSIC AGENT in the etio logy of early onset periodontitis. However, the risk of developing per iodontal disease is not equal for all individuals, suggesting host fac tors are involved in determining an individual's disease susceptibilit y. In this report, a case of an otherwise healthy female, who exhibite d prepubertal periodontitis (PPP) at age 10, juvenile periodontitis (J P) at age 13, and rapidly progressive periodontitis (RPP) at age 29 ye ars, is presented. Microbial, immunological, and genetic features of t he case are presented. PPP, JP, and RPP are considered distinct diseas e entities, albeit with similar pathology and pathogenesis, yet all we re manifest sequentially in the same individual. This report presents the idea that certain individuals are predisposed to early-onset perio dontal diseases and the early identification of risk factors is import ant in the management of these individuals.