Folia Medica 61(4): 522-528, doi: 10.3897/folmed.61.e47734
Oral Microbial Flora in Bulgarian Adolescents with Moderate Plaque-induced Gingivitis
expand article infoStela K. Peycheva, Elisaveta G. Apostolova, Zhivko L. Peychev, Petya A. Gardjeva, Mihaela S. Shishmanova-Doseva, Marianna A. Murdjeva
‡ Medical University of Plovdiv, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
Open Access
Abstract

Introduction: In children and adolescents, the most common periodontal disease is the plaque-induced gingivitis.

Aim: The aim of this study was to reveal the bacterial species associated with supragingival plaque of Bulgarian adolescents diagnosed with plaque-induced gingivitis.

Materials and methods: Supragingival plaque samples from 70 healthy subjects with moderate plaque-induced gingivitis (37 females and 33 males), aged 12-18 years, were obtained and examined microbiologically.

Results: A total of 224 microorganisms were isolated. Gram-negative bacteria were predominant compared to Gram-positive [132 (59%) vs. 92 (41%), p<0.001]. Aerobic microorganisms were detected more often than anaerobic (151; 67.5% vs. 73; 32.5%, p<0.001). The Streptococcus mutans group and Neisseria spp. were isolated from all adolescents. The frequency of isolation of C. albicans was relatively lower – 11 (15.7%). The anaerobes showed much greater microbial diversity (12 pathogen groups were isolated). Gram-negative rods were isolated from 57 of the adolescents (isolation frequency 81.4%). F. varium, P. melaninogenica, P. intermedia and P. assacharolyticus were detected respectively in 12 (16%), 9 (12%), 8 (11%) and 7 (10%) samples. The less frequently isolated anaerobes were Gram-positive cocci, Gram-negative cocci, Bacteroides uniformis and Bifidobacterium spp. together.

Conclusion: The most frequently isolated microbiota in our study is part of the normal oral bacterial flora. The presence of anaerobes such as Prevotella, Fusobacterium, Bacteroides and Porphyromonas reflects the gradual change of the flora to more complex one. The results of quantitative and qualitative evaluation of the plaque of adolescents with moderate plaque-induced gingivitis may contribute to the selection of the prevention and treatment of this disease.

Keywords
adolescents, dental plaque, microbiology, plaque-induced gingivitis