Rehabilitative management offered Nigerian localized and generalized aggressive periodontitis patients

This paper highlights the typical clinical features of aggressive periodontitis (formerly known as juvenile periodontitis in the South Western region of Nigeria), the attending psychological effect following tooth loss, and the rehabilitative management offered which included periodontal therapy, psychotherapy, and prosthetic replacement of the missing teeth. The psychotherapy is the main distinguishing treatment in this study from previously reported modes of management of this disease entity. Subjects were from a part of the South Western region of Nigeria, and ages ranged from 15 to 22 years. They all presented very late with subsequent gross periodontal breakdown and subsequent psychological depression. The mean values of the probing depth (mm), degree of mobility, and the amount of bone fill (mm) from the periapical radiographs were recorded pre and post-operatively. The missing teeth were replaced with acrylic dentures, and psychotherapy was offered at three levels (individual, group, and conjoint-family psychotherapy). There was significant improvement of these clinical parameters six months after treatment, and the partial denture replacement of the missing teeth improved their appearance as expected but did not totally improve the initial depressive state. The psychotherapy offered gave the patients positive psychological effects that further restored their ability to socialize in their environment, which added to their positive experience of life. In conclusion the typical clinical features of localized aggressive periodontitis (LAP) and generalized aggressive periodontitis (GAP) patients in our environment are late presentation with gross periodontal tissue breakdown. Psychotherapy is an important aspect in the management of this group of patients in conjunction with the periodontal and prosthetic management, which gives total rehabilitation.