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Monozygotic twins are discordant for chronic periodontitis: clinical and bacteriological findings
Author(s) -
Torres de Heens Gaudy L.,
Loos Bruno G.,
Van Der Velden Ubele
Publication year - 2010
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.2009.01511.x
Subject(s) - medicine , proband , periodontitis , twin study , clinical attachment loss , chronic periodontitis , dizygotic twins , monozygotic twin , body mass index , dentistry , heritability , genetics , obstetrics , biology , gene , mutation
Torres de Heens GL, Loos BG, van der Velden U. Monozygotic twins are discordant for chronic periodontitis: clinical and bacteriological findings. J Clin Periodontol 2010; 37: 120–128. doi: 10.1111/j.1600‐051X.2009.01511.x . Abstract Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess, in monozygotic (MZ) and dizygotic (DZ) twin pairs in whom the proband of the twin pair was suffering from moderate to severe chronic periodontitis, the contribution of genetics, periodontal pathogens and lifestyle factors towards the clinical phenotype. Material and Methods: For this study, 18 adult twin pairs were selected on the basis of interproximal attachment loss (AL) 5 mm in 2 non‐adjacent teeth in one twin member. The study included 10 MZ and eight DZ twin pairs, in whom the periodontal condition, presence of periodontal pathogens, educational level, smoking behaviour and body mass index (BMI) were evaluated. Results: Both MZ and DZ twins were discordant regarding AL and alveolar bone loss. Discordance was greater in DZ compared with MZ twins. In MZ twins, the discordance could not be explained by education, smoking, BMI and periodontal pathogens. In DZ twins, 45.6% of the discordance could be explained by more pack‐years of the probands. Conclusion: The results confirm a possible role of genetic factors in periodontitis. However, the magnitude of the genetic effects on disease severity may have been overestimated previously.