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Comparative Differential Dark‐Field Microscopy of Subgingival Bacteria From Tooth Surfaces With Recent Evidence of Recurring Periodontitis and From Nonaffected Surfaces
Author(s) -
Listgarten Max A.,
Levin Sandra,
Schifter Catherine C.,
Sullivan Pamela,
Evian Cyril I.,
Rosenberg Edwin S.
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
journal of periodontology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.036
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1943-3670
pISSN - 0022-3492
DOI - 10.1902/jop.1984.55.7.398
Subject(s) - periodontitis , dark field microscopy , dentistry , microscopy , medicine , pathology
N inety‐two subjects with a history of treatment for chronic periodontitis were monitored on a regular basis for an average period of 10.7 months. During this monitoring period, in spite of their participation in a preventive maintenance program, 19 subjects out of 92 showed evidence of significantly increased probing depth (≥ 3 mm from base line measurements) on at least one tooth surface, or approximately 1% of the dental units at risk in this population. A comparison of differential microscopic counts of subgingival bacteria from the affected tooth surfaces with a pooled sample of 6 other surfaces with the greatest probing depth, in the same mouth, taken at the same appointment, revealed no significant differences between proportions of coccoid cells, spirochetes, motile rods or other cell types. These findings suggest that disease recurrence, as measured by a comparatively rapid increase in probing depth, might be accounted for on the basis of the following hypotheses: (1) an alteration in the host response without a detectable change in the composition of the subgingival microbiota, (2) a qualitative change in the microbial flora not detectable by a microscopic assay, (3) relatively brief episodes of disease activity which may be accompanied by brief, transient, qualitative changes in the local microbiota that cannot be readily detected by biannual examinations.