Localized aggressive multiparous periodontitis: a newly documented entity.

This article describes a form of localized aggressive periodontitis (LAP) in young multiparous women and denotes this form of periodontitis as localized aggressive multiparous periodontitis (LAMP). The authors retrospectively reviewed six cases of LAP in healthy multiparous women who were followed clinically for more than five years, examining clinical histories, clinical findings, and radiographic features. Age, race, gender, parity, location of attachment loss, rate of attachment loss, and symptoms were recorded. LAMP is characterized by asymmetrical attachment loss along the distal proximal area of the maxillary and/or mandibular first permanent molars in multiparous females with a median age of 27. The mean annual rate of attachment loss in the maxillary first molars was calculated at 0.5 mm. LAMP progresses to involve the mandibular incisors but, unlike LAP, appears to spare the maxillary incisors. The authors suggest that LAMP is a recognizable periodontal disease that can be diagnosed in young, multiparous females via clinical history, periodontal examination, and radiographs. This study presents potential pathogenic pathways and suggests a possible answer to the paradox of why aging women become more edentulous than men despite better overall dental care.