[Quantifying bacteriological findings in the subgingival flora]

The variation of selected bacteriological parameters was investigated in 25 untreated A. actinomycetemcomitans-associated periodontitis patients. Samples of subgingival plaque were collected twice within 6 weeks with paper points for cultivation as well as with curettes for analyses of the morphological composition. Total counts of colony forming units, counts of A. actinomycetemcomitans as well as proportions of spirochetes were determined. Our results suggest a high reproducibility of quantitative data if a standardised sampling procedure with paper points is employed. On the other hand, considerable differences were observed in the morphological composition of subgingival plaque.