The detection of Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia, and Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans in the supragingival plaque of children with and without caries.

Purpose: The present study was undertaken to determine the presence of 3 periodontopathic bacteria in the supragingival plaques of 3- to16-year-old children with different oral health conditions. Methods: DMFT and dft, PMA index (P=papillary gingivitis, M=marginal gingivitis, and A=attached gingivitis), OHI (oral hygiene index), and oral malodor of each subject were determined prior to the collection of supragingival plaques. Periodontopathic bacteria (P gingivalis, P intermedia, and A actinomycetemcomitans) in supragingival plaques were detected using an immunoslot blot assay with monoclonal 3 periodontopathic bacteria in the 2 subject groups (children with and without caries). P gingivalis-positive subjects, but not their P intermedia or A actinomycetemcomitans counterparts, were correlated to oral malodor. Oral malodor was also correlated to debris index, a component of OHI. Results: The group with the higher OHI showed a higher prevalence of periodontopathic bacteria. For the 3 periodontopathic bacteria in the subjects tested, P gingivalis-, P intermedia-, and A actinomycetemcomitans-positive plaques were not age related. Conclusions: The supragingival plaques in children can harbor periodontopathic bacteria such as P gingivalis, P intermedia, and A actinomycetemcomitans. (Pediatr Dent. 2003;25:143-148)