title: Localized aggressive periodontitis in a six-year-old: a case report.
abstract: The purpose of this report was to describe an approach to diagnose and effectively treat a pediatric patient with localized aggressive periodontitis. A 6-year-old female presented with clinical and radiographic evidence of severe attachment loss around several primary teeth. She had no history of systemic disease, periodontal disease, or caries prior to the periodontal abscess that prompted her referral. Routine immunological tests did not reveal any functional defects, but DNA testing for periodontal pathogens revealed the presence of all 8 aggressive periodontal pathogens assayed. Treatment consisted of the extraction of 2 severely affected primary teeth, increased frequency of recall appointments, and administration of systemic antibiotics. The patient's periodontal condition was stabilized 18 months post-treatment, and the 8 pathogens were no longer at detectable levels. With a treatment goal of preventing disease progression into the erupting permanent dentition, this treatment regimen provides an effective alternative to more aggressive strategies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry, University of Louisville School of Dentistry, Louisville, KY, USA. hilgersk@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Kelly K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Hilgers
authors.forename: John W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Dean
authors.forename: Gregory P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Mathieu
mesh_terms: D016976:Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010520:Aggressive Periodontitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D016301:Alveolar Bone Loss / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D019980:Amoxicillin-Potassium Clavulanate Combination / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008795:Metronidazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010508:Periodontal Abscess / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D018713:Prevotella intermedia / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014086:Tooth Mobility / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D008795:Metronidazole; D019980:Amoxicillin-Potassium Clavulanate Combination; D002710:Chlorhexidine