The site-specific subgingival microbiome across periodontal conditions and its relationship with clinical parameters.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate site-specific subgingival microbiota by precise probing depth (PD) and their associations with clinical parameters across periodontal states.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Participants included healthy-periodontium (n = 20), gingivitis (n = 20) and periodontitis (n = 20). 218 subgingival biofilm samples were collected from PD-based-sites, including health (n = 60), gingivitis (n = 64) and periodontitis (n = 94). Samples further categorized as unstable (PD = 1-3 mm, gingivitis) and dysbiosis (PD ≥ 4 mm, periodontitis). Full-length 16 S rRNA sequencing was performed using third-generation technology.

RESULTS

Selenomonas sputigena (S. sputigena), Filifactor alocis (F. alocis), Aggregatibacter segnis (A. segnis), Prevotella intermedia (P. intermedia), Campylobacter gracilis (C. gracilis), Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) positively correlated with clinical parameters-bleeding on probing, modified gingival index, plaque index and PD. Haemophilus parainfluenzae (H. parainfluenzae) negatively correlated with clinical parameters. Microbiota in gingivitis (PD = 4 mm) resembled with periodontitis deep-sites (PD ≥ 4 mm). Periodontitis (PD ≥ 4 mm) showed a dysbiotic microbial profile, where P. gingivalis, P. intermedia and F. alocis were key taxa.

CONCLUSIONS

Positive correlations with clinical parameters encompassed F. alocis, P. intermedia, C. gracilis, P. gingivalis, etc., while H. parainfluenzae showed negative relations. Gingivitis (PD = 4 mm) exhibited a microbiota resembled the PD ≥ 4 mm of periodontitis.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Gingivitis pseudopockets (PD = 4 mm) may exhibited periodontitis-like microbiota, suggesting that such sites should be monitored as early risk indicators for disease progression.