Aggressive periodontitis in children: a 14-19-year follow-up

The objective was to assess the recurrence of disease in subjects with a history of localized aggressive periodontitis (LAP).

Initially, 11 children (7-13 years) with LAP were examined. Samples from the subgingival microbiota and soft tissue biopsies were obtained. Non-surgical periodontal therapy was performed and the affected deciduous and two permanent molars were extracted. The subjects were enrolled in a recall programme within the public dental services. Fourteen to 19 years after the initial examination, the subjects were recalled for clinical and radiographic examinations.

The re-examination disclosed that two of the subjects exhibited recurrence of disease with probing pocket depth > or = 6 mm and bone loss of 3-4 mm at several teeth, while another two subjects presented a limited number of sites with the disease. While bleeding on probing was a general finding in the group, no further loss of attachment was detected in seven subjects. Advanced attachment loss at the deciduous teeth as well as the presence of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans and its specific clone JP at the initial examination did not correlate with the recurrence of disease at the 14-19-year follow-up.

Children treated for LAP do not always exhibit recurrence of periodontitis in the absence of supportive periodontal therapy over periods of 14-19 years.