Modeling the relationship between clinical, microbiologic, and immunologic parameters and alveolar bone levels in an elderly population
The purpose of the present study was to evaluate potential clinical, microbiological, and immunological risk factors for bone loss in an elderly population. Seventy-four subjects met the inclusion criteria, which included being from 65 to 75 years of age. Clinical assessments were performed as well as radiographic, microbiological, and darkfield microscopic examinations. Identification of specific subgingival plaque microorganisms was done on selective media, by the BANA test and by ELISA. In addition, enumeration of leukocyte subsets was performed. Results indicated that three clinical measures correlated positively with alveolar bone level: tooth mobility, probing depth, and bacterial plaque index. When clinical and microbiologic data were related, the level of E. corrodens, tooth mobility, relative number of P. intermedia, probing depth, and total cultivable bacteria correlated with alveolar bone level. Clinical and immunologic information resulted in correlating factors being antibody levels to P. gingivalis, tooth mobility, probing depth, antibody to F. nucleatum, and antibody to A. actinomycetemcomitans. In a model incorporating factors from all three areas, anti-P. gingivalis W83 level was easily the strongest factor. From this study it was concluded that tooth mobility and levels of serum IgG antibody specific for a limited number of suspected pathogens were the strongest correlated with alveolar bone loss. [P.W.]
Wheeler,T.T., W.P. McArthur, I. Magnusson, RG. Marks, J. Smith, D.S. Sarrett, B.S. Bender, and W.B. Clark, J Periodont, 65:68,1994