1989 Volume 38 Issue 4 Pages 1049-1057
A Japanese female, 9 years of age with juvenile periodontitis, presented at our hospital complaining of mobility of the upper and lower incisors and first molars and gingival bleeding. She had no marked medical history. Oral and medical examinations were as follows:
1. Dental radiographs revealed moderate bone loss, especially in the regions of incisors and first molars.
2. Immunological examinations showed positive antinuclear antibodies, increased IgM.
3. Increased thyroid activity was noted, and showed antithyroglobulin and antimicrozome. We suspected a Hashimoto-like asymptomatic autoimmune disease.
4. Bacteriological examination of pus from the blind sac showed mainly gram positive Gemella haemolizans, but no Actinobaciilus actinomycetcomitans or Capnocytophaga.
This case was treated with general oral care and penicillin according to testing the oral bacteria.
Her present oral condition is healthy, normal gingival color and improved alveolar bones.
This study suggests that cases of juvenile periodontitis should be examined to determine if it is a nonsymptomatic disease, and further studies on the relationship between autoimmune disease and juvenile periodontitis should be done.
