Journal of Periodontal & Implant Science  2013;43(4):183-190

doi:10.5051/jpis.2013.43.4.183

Quantitative analysis of periodontal pathogens present in the saliva of geriatric subjects.

Uttom K SHET 1 ; Hee Kyun OH ; Hye Jeong KIM ; Hyun Ju CHUNG ; Young Joon KIM ; Ok Su KIM ; Hong Ran CHOI ; Ok Jun KIM ; Hoi Jeong LIM ; Seok Woo LEE

Affiliations

+expand

Keywords

Chronic periodontitis; Disease progression; Geriatrics; Microbiology; Real-time polymerase chain reaction; Saliva

Country

Republic of Korea

Language

English

Abstract

PURPOSE: At present, information regarding periodontal disease in geriatric patients is scarce. The purpose of this study was to quantify the periodontal pathogens present in the saliva of Korean geriatric patients and assess the relationship between the bacterial levels and the periodontal condition. METHODS: Six putative periodontal pathogens were quantified by using a real-time polymerase chain reaction assay in geriatric patient groups (>60 years) with mild chronic periodontitis (MCP), moderate chronic periodontitis (MoCP), and severe chronic periodontitis (SCP). The copy numbers of Porphyromonas gingivalis, Tannerella forsythia, Treponema denticola, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Fusobacterium nucleatum, and Prevotella intermedia were measured. RESULTS: It was found that the bacterial copy numbers increased as the severity of the disease increased from MCP to SCP, except for P. intermedia. For P. intermedia, it was found that samples in the MCP group yielded the largest amount. It was also found that the quantities of P. gingivalis, T. forsythia, and T. denticola, the so-called "red complex" bacteria, were lower than those of F. nucleatum, A. actinomycetemcomitans, and P. intermedia in all of the samples. CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, the results of this study suggest that the levels of P. gingivalis, T. forsythia, F. nucleatum, and T. denticola present in saliva are associated with the severity of periodontal disease in geriatric patients.