CLINICAL AND MICROBIOLOGICAL FINDINGS IN ELDERLY SUBJECTS WITH GINGIVITIS OR PERIODONTITIS

The objective of the present study was to study the supra- and subging ival microflora by culture and cDNA probe methods in 20 elderly subjec ts who were between 62 and 93 years of age. 10 of them had gingivitis only, and 10 had periodontitis. B. forsythus (BF), P. gingivalis (PG), P. intermedia (PI), P. nigrescens (PN), A. actinomycetemcomitans (AA) , T. denticola (TD), and pathogen-related oral spirochetes (PROS) were studied. Oral hygiene was similar and poor in both groups. The mean p robing depth at sample sites was 6.7 mm (S.D+/-1.3) in the periodontit is group and 2.2 mm (S.D.+/-1.5) in the gingivitis group (F=17.75, p<0 .001). Mean clinical attachment levels (CAL) were 4.3 mm (S.D.+/-2.0) and 1.7 mm (S.D.+/-0.9) respectively (p<0.001). Total viable counts >1 .0x10(5) in supra-gingival plaque samples were found in all periodonti tis and in eight gingivitis subjects. 70x more black-pigmented organis ms were found in supra-gingival and 185 times more in sub-gingival pla que from the periodontitis group (p<0.01). Culture data showed P. nigr esecens in 10% periodontitis and 50% gingivitis subjects (p<0.03). In supra-gingival samples by the Affirm(TM) DP test, BF was present in 50 % periodontitis and 60% gingivitis while culture data were negative fo r all subjects. PG was found in 30% periodontitis and 50% gingivitis s ubjects with TD in 70% periodontitis and in 30% gingivitis subjects. I n the sub-gingival plaque samples 80% periodontitis and 70% gingivitis subjects had >1x10(5) anaerobes. The total count of black-pigmented o rganisms was significantly greater in the periodontitis elders (p<0.00 1), cDNA probes by the Affirm(TM) DP test identified subgingival prese nce of BF (80%) PG (80%), PI (80%), AA (0%), TD (50%) in periodontitis subjects with BF (70%), PG (40%), PI (30%) and TD (20%) in gingivitis subjects. PROS were found in (80%) samples from periodontitis and in (60%) of gingivitis elderly. Only the quantities of PI (r=0.48, p<0.01 ) and TD (r=0.37, p<0.01) were associated with the disease definition. The smoking habit in the periodontitis group was significantly higher (p<0.01). A history of smoking may contribe significantly to periodon titis in the presence of pathogens.