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Associations between subgingival plaque bacterial morphotypes and clinical indices?
A A Omar1, H N Newman, J Bulman
1Department of Periodontology, University of London, UK.
Journal of Clinical Periodontology
|August 1, 1991
Summary
This study found moderate associations between specific subgingival plaque bacteria, like spirochaetes, and periodontal pocket depth in adults. Plaque index showed weaker links to periodontal disease indices.
Area of Science:
- Periodontology
- Microbiology
- Dental Diagnostics
Background:
- Chronic periodontitis is a common oral disease.
- Understanding the relationship between subgingival plaque bacteria and periodontal disease is crucial for effective treatment.
- Current diagnostic methods often rely on clinical indices, but microbial assessment may offer further insights.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate associations between subgingival plaque bacterial morphotypes and clinical indicators of chronic periodontitis in adults.
- To compare plaque sampling and clinical measurements taken in vivo versus post-extraction.
- To assess the influence of different inflammation indices and analytical methods on observed associations.
Main Methods:
- Darkfield microscopy was used to assess subgingival plaque bacterial morphotypes (spirochaetes, other motiles, cocci).
- Clinical indices including plaque index (PlI), gingival index (GI), sulcus bleeding index (SBI), papilla bleeding index (PBI), attachment loss (AL), and pocket depth (PD/PPD) were recorded.
- Plaque and clinical data were collected both in vivo and post-extraction from adult subjects with untreated chronic periodontitis.
Main Results:
- Insignificant associations were found between supragingival plaque (PlI) and periodontal inflammation or destruction.
- Significant moderate associations (r=0.5-0.77) were observed between spirochaetes, other motiles, and cocci.
- Spirochaetes showed a moderate positive association with pocket depth (r=0.5), with a 2.43% increase per 1 mm PPD increase.
- Papilla bleeding index (PBI) showed significant positive associations (r=0.3) with spirochaetes and other motiles.
Conclusions:
- Subgingival bacterial morphotypes, particularly spirochaetes, are moderately associated with periodontal pocket depth.
- Plaque index alone is a poor predictor of periodontal inflammation and destruction.
- Further research with more detailed microbial analysis may be needed to fully elucidate the complex etiology of periodontitis.