EFFECT OF TREATMENT ON SOME PERIODONTOPATHOGENS AND THEIR ANTIBODY-LEVELS IN PERIODONTAL ABSCESSES

TWENTY PATIENTS SUFFERING FROM abscess of periodontal origin were trea ted and followed clinically and microbiologically for 6 months. Microb iological examination was performed by culture technique. One deep and one shallow periodontal pocket in the same patient were examined conc omitantly. Serum was collected and analyzed for specific antibody leve l using ELISA methodology. Treatment included supragingival scaling, d rainage, and irrigation of the periodontal pocket with 0.85% sodium ch loride and systemic tetracycline administration, 1 g per day for 2 wee ks. At baseline, 90% of the abscesses harbored Porphyromonas gingivali s and/or Prevotella intermedia. After 6 months, abscess sites demonstr ated a reduced probing depth, less bleeding on probing, and gain of at tachment. Abscess sites showed no P. gingivalis and the proportion of P. intermedia was significantly reduced 6 months after treatment. In d eep periodontal pockets a similar pattern was seen. Shallow pockets de monstrated few clinical signs of inflammation and the number of bacter ia was generally low. Campylobacter rectus, Capnocytophaga spp, and Fu sobacterium nucleatum were frequently seen in low numbers in most site s during the study period, while Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans was detected only in a few sites. The IgG levels in patient sera again st antigens of homologous bacterial strains remained fairly constant f or 6 months. The result of the present study indicates that P. gingiva lis and P. intermedia are involved in periodontal abscess formation. A lso, treatment where drainage is combined with tetracycline administra tion promotes healing and reattachment.