Structure of the Microbial Flora Associated with Periodontal Health and Disease in Man: A Light and Electron Microscopic Study

作者：Max A. Listgarten · 发表于：Journal of Periodontology · 年份：1976 · DOI：10.1902/jop.1976.47.1.1 · 被引用次数：555 · 研究领域：Oral microbiology and periodontitis research、Dental Health and Care Utilization、Dental Radiography and Imaging

Teeth slated for extraction were evaluated with respect to their periodontal status and classified accordingly into five categories; namely normal, gingivitis, periodontitis, periodontosis and postperiodontosis. After processing, one approximal surface of each tooth was sampled at various levels in an apico-occlusal direction for light and electron microscopic study of the associated bacterial flora. In normal samples, the flora consisted of a relatively thin, adherent bacterial layer confined to the enamel surface. The cells were predominantly coccoid in shape with cell wall features compatible with those of Gram-positive organisms. Isolated filamentous or branching forms and some Gram-negative bacteria were noted on the surface of the more apical portion of the bacterial layer. No flagellated cells or spirochetes were present. Gingivitis samples yielded a relatively more voluminous and complex supragingival flora with relatively more filamentous bacteria and more cells with a Gram-negative cell wall ultrastructure. These samples also contained corncob formations on the surface of supragingival deposits, and flagellated cells with spirochetes within the predominantly Gram-negative flora of the sulcus bottom. Supragingival bacterial deposits of periodontitis samples were similar to those observed in gingivitis. The subgingival flora consisted of relatively fewer cells adherent to the root surface with a concomitant increase in the population of Gram-negative and flagellated c...