Molecular detection of aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans and porphyromonas gingivalis in subgingival plaque of healthy young children

Abstract

Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the presence of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (A. actinomycetemcomitans) and Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) in subgingival plaque of healthy young children aged between 3 and 15 years using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and to compare their presence in children in their primary, mixed and permanent dentitions. Method: Subgingival plaque samples were collected from 120 healthy children and were grouped as Group I-Deciduous dentition, Group II- Mixed dentition and Group III- Permanent dentition, and were subjected to PCR assay. Results: Binomial test and Proportions test were used for statistical analysis. A. actinomycetemcomitans and P. gingivalis were detected in 5% and 35%, 12.5% and 20%, and 0% and 27.5% samples in group I, II and III respectively Conclusion: Both the microorganisms were present in group I and II. In group III only P. gingivalis was present. The results from this study do not necessarily pertain to differences in dentition but possibly to inter-individual differences.