Studies of the predominant cultivable microbiota of early periodontitis

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Abstract
Plaque samples were taken from 3 comparably sized areas on the buccal surface of individual teeth of 7 patients with early periodontitis. The total counts from the area immediately coronal to the gingival margin were 10–100 times as high as counts from areas immediately apical to the gingival margin or at the base of the pocket.The microbial composition of the predominant cultivable microbiota in cach of the 3 sites on the teeth of 4 of the patients was studied using comprehensive cultural techniques. The sample were anaerobically dispersed, anaerobically serially diluted and plated in 5 environments. The isolates were extensively characterized and where possible identified to genus or species. The composition of the microbiota differed from subject to subject although the clinical conditions were seemingly similar. The two subjects who had been scaled two weeks prior to sample taking showed relativwely minor differences between the supragingival and subgingival samples. The predominant organisms detected were mainly S. sanguis, A. viscosus, and “suspected pairs”, in contrast the two subjects who had no scaling showed a remarkable difference between the supragingival and subgingival microbial flora. The subgingival flora consisted mainly of anaerobic microorganisms, with peptostreptococci predominating in one subject and B. melaninogenicus and A. israelii predominating in the other subject.