Juvenile periodontitis (periodontosis)

Juvenile periodontitis, characterized by early age of onset, rapid rate of periodontal tissue destruction and selective tooth involvement in the absence of commensurate aetiological factors, is recognized as a distinct clinical entity. The present paper describes the clinical findings and some immunological characteristics in a group of thirty-four patients under the age of thirty. Clinical aspects studied included the influence of sex, race, family history and general health. Immunological findings relating to the level of immunoglobulins in serum and saliva, lymphocyte transformation in response to veillonella, bacteroides, fusobacterium and actinomyces species and to ultrasonicated plaque, and the inhibition of macrophage migration by these antigens. Differences were shown to exist between those patients below the age of 22 years and the group aged 23-29 years.