title: Localized prepubertal periodontitis in a 5-year-old child: investigations and clinical observations over a 3-year period.
abstract: A 5-year-old boy presented with persistent generalized gingival inflammation. Clinical and radiographic examination supplemented by immunological and microbiological investigation led to a diagnosis of localized prepubertal periodontitis. The child was subsequently monitored for 3 years and despite treatment there was continued bone loss related to his primary teeth. This case highlights the need for liaison between specialists in paediatric dentistry, periodontology, immunology and microbiology in order to diagnose prepubertal periodontitis and to establish a rational basis for treatment to prevent progression to juvenile periodontitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Restorative Dentistry, School of Clinical Dentistry, The Queen's University of Belfast, Northern Ireland.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Linden
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fleming
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Coulter
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lynn
mesh_terms: D010520:Aggressive Periodontitis / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006089:Gram-Negative Anaerobic Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006092:Gram-Negative Facultatively Anaerobic Rods / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013144:Spirochaetales / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous