DIRECT EXAMINATION OF SUBGINGIVAL PLAQUE FROM A DISEASED PERIODONTAL SITE USING CONFOCAL LASER-SCANNING MICROSCOPY (CLSM)

Material taken directly from a periodontal site was investigated using immunofluorescence. acridine orange staining and confocal laser scann ing microscopy (CLSM). Porphyromonas gingivalis was tracked by a speci fic polyclonal antibody and its pronounced occurrence in inflamed as c ompared to non-inflamed areas was demonstrated. Further accompanying m icroorganisms were counterstained with acridine orange which could pro vide information on the viability of individual cells. Optical section s by laser microscopy revealed the spatial arrangement of the investig ated material. The combination of specific staining and CLSM allows a detailed microbiological investigation of clinical material obtained d irectly without cultivation.