title: Correlation between dysfunctional occlusion and periodontal bacterial profile.
abstract: The aim of this study is to compare the evolution in bacterial profile at evident periodontitis sites following two types of treatment - oral hygiene procedures alone (Group 1) and oral hygiene plus occlusal adjustment through selective grinding (Group 2). The presence of periodontal disease was ascertained by clinical examination (redness, oedema, probe depth, bleeding-on-probing). Bacterial profiling was carried out via phase contrast microscopy on plaque samples taken from periodontitis sites in both patient groups. Bacterial populations were characterized in terms of coccus content before (T0) and at monthly intervals after treatment (T1-6) over a period of six months. Static and dynamic occlusion was evaluated only in Group 2 patients. Whereas the poor pre-treatment bacterial profile was re-established progressively over the evaluation period in Group 1 patients, coccus populations flourished in Group 2 patients, reaching healthy levels (>70%) two months after occlusal adjustment, and clinical examination confirmed an absence of periodontal inflammation in these patients. Occlusal adjustment can lead to a marked, stable improvement in periodontal health in terms of bacterial profile and clinical appearance, presumably by obviating tissue distress caused by occlusal dysfunction, thereby providing unfavourable conditions for bacterial growth. Bacterial profiling is an effective indicator of periodontal health.
authors.affiliation: Private practice, Mondovì, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Meynardi
authors.affiliation: Private practice, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Pasqualini
authors.affiliation: Private practice, Varese, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.affiliation: Private practice, Venice, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dal Carlo
authors.affiliation: Private practice, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Biancotti
authors.affiliation: Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine, University of Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Carinci
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000382:microbiology; D019558:Occlusal Adjustment; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000382:microbiology*