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Microscopic spirochete counts in untreated subjects with and without periodontal tissue destruction
Author(s) -
Lembariti Bakari S.,
Mikx Frans H.M.,
Palenstein Helderman Wim H.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
journal of clinical periodontology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.456
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1600-051X
pISSN - 0303-6979
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-051x.1995.tb00140.x
Subject(s) - periodontal disease , dentistry , gingival and periodontal pocket , medicine , bleeding on probing , calculus (dental)
The purpose of the study was to determine microscopically the %s of spirochetes at sites without periodontal destruction in subjects with destructive periodontal diseases (cases) and in subjects free of it (controls), who had not received professional prophylaxis. From a sample of 164 individuals aged between 30–44 years living in rural and urban areas of Tanzania, cases and controls were selected. Cases ( n =25) were selected who exihibited at least 3 teeth with pocket depth of >5 mm. The controls ( n = 28) had no pockets deeper than 3 mm. From each subject, 1 subgingival plaque sample was taken at the mid point of the lingual surface of 1 of the upper premolars which showed bleeding on probing but no calculus and no pockets. In addition, one subgingival sample was obtained from a pocket. Pockets contained the highest %s of spirochetes, which confirms earlier findings. A significant difference in % of spirochetes between cases and controls was found at non‐destructive sites, indicating a host effect on the subgingival microflora. However, the spirochete counts at non‐destructive sites did not provide a reliable measure to identify subjects with destructive periodontal disease.