A CASE REPORT OF PREPUBERTAL CHILDREN WITH SEVERE PERIODONTITIS

Abstract

Objectives: To describe clinical features, demographic characteristics, and treatment outcome in four prepubertal children with severe periodontitis. This is a case report of prepubertal children that have been referred to the Temple University Kornberg School of Dentistry (TUKSD) for the treatment of severe periodontitis. Methods & Materials: Chart review was performed of available paper and electronic records of patients aged ≤ 10 years that have been treated at the Graduate Periodontology Clinic, TUKSD during the past 5 years. Cases were evaluated for periodontal diseases by means of assessing dental plaque, dental calculus, gingivitis, probing depths and clinical attachment level, and radiographic evidence of bone levels. Cases diagnosed with periodontitis were identified and the patients¡¯ demographics, clinical findings, type of treatment provided, treatment outcome, and medical history were noted. Results: Four children with severe periodontitis were identified. All the subjects had deep probing depths around their primary teeth showing significant bone loss on radiographs and were diagnosed with severe periodontitis. These children were treated with scaling and root planing combined with systemic antibiotics and extraction of hopeless primary teeth. The permanent teeth erupted early and there was no radiographic alveolar bone loss. Three subjects had microbiological testing and showed predominance of certain periodontal pathogens such as Prevotella intermedia and Fusobecterium nucleatum. Following treatment all children were inaccessible for follow-up. Conclusion: Periodontitis in prepubertal children causes early loss of primary teeth and early eruption of permanent teeth. Relevant systemic diseases were not detected in any of the children. Compliance with periodontal maintenance is poor among prepubertal children attending the TUKSD clinics for the treatment of periodontitis.