Mycoplasma in relation to gingivitis and periodontitis.

In this study, mycoplasma were enumerated in the gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) of gingivitis and periodontitis patients. GCF samples were obtained from the mesial (approximal) gingival crevice or periodontal pocket of the maxillary right first permanent molar. Samples were cultured anaerobically on a medium selective for mycoplasmas as well as on a non-selective medium to obtain a total anaerobic count. Mycoplasmas were present in the GCF of both gingivitis and periodontitis patients, but a greater % was obtained from the GCF of patients with periodontitis. The proportions of mycoplasma appeared to be independent of the disease activity as expressed by bleeding on probing (PBI), but to be related to probable pocket depth, as shown by the higher %s in periodontitis than gingivitis for a given PBI. On the basis of an increased proportion in relation to disease severity, mycoplasmas would therefore appear to be amongst those micro-organisms associated with CIPD.