Case report of regional alveolar bone actinomycosis: a juvenile periodontitis-like lesion.

BACKGROUND

Cervicofacial actinomycosis infection most often involves the mandibular bone and rarely the alveolar crest.

METHODS

We describe a 14-year-old patient who had actinomycosis involving the alveolar bone at the left lower dental quadrant region. Resembling juvenile periodontitis, it was difficult to diagnose properly and resulted in devastating dental and periodontal consequences: loss of one tooth with most of its adjacent regional alveolar bone, severely compromising the support of two other teeth.

RESULTS

With the diagnosis came successful treatment, including surgical removal of the soft and hard tissues with concomitant prolonged penicillin administration.

CONCLUSIONS

We feel that this case should raise the interest and concern of both the periodontist and the general practitioner so that early diagnosis can be obtained, significantly improving the clinical outcome.