Prepubertal periodontitis: a report of 2 cases

Prepubertal periodontitis is a term suggested for a form of periodontitis that starts soon after the eruption of primary teeth. There is increased awareness that the disease entity known as "periodontitis" is in all probability a family of related but reasonably discrete diseases. The purpose of this report is to describe the clinical, radiographic, and laboratory findings in 2 patients, as well as treatment of prepubertal periodontitis.

This study presents 2 cases of generalized prepubertal periodontitis: a 5-year-old girl and a 13-year-old girl.

Case 1 presented to the clinic because of parental concern for the early exfoliation of her teeth. All of her teeth with Grade III mobility, ie, 8.5, were extracted and the rest were scaled and root planed with subgingival irrigation of 0.2% chlorhexidine. She received a program of 3-month maintenance scaling and 6 months later, there was no further progression of periodontal lesions. Case 2 demonstrated the destruction of tooth roots along with extensive loss of tooth roots and alveolar bone. Since all the permanent teeth were Grade II mobile, the patient was advised to have total extraction with replacement of teeth by complete denture prosthesis at a later date.

In case 2 premature root resorption was occurring concurrently with unexplained extensive alveolar bone loss. In Case 1, the elimination of the pathogenic microflora during primary dentition by early extraction of the teeth involved, plus daily local, mechanical and chemical control of the irritant factors may have prevented subsequent damage to remaining teeth in prepubertal periodontitis.