Precocious periodontitis: a clinical entity and a treatment responsibility.

This report has proposed that the term, periodontosis, be discarded and replaced with the term, precocious periodontitis. The literature review has shown that, although the exact causative agents are unknown, certain microbiological reactions do occur and the condition is a periodontitis. The term, precocious periodontitis, has been suggested because the disease entity differs from chronic periodontitis in some of its characteristic features and etiologic factors. Three important local etiologic factors are: (1) contact and eruption of the first molars, (2) occlusal traumatism, and (3) ineffective oral hygiene. The recent literature concerning possible hereditary characteristics, bacteriological findings, and immunological reactions has been cited. The reports presented showing successful results of therapy were selected to illustrate that this condition can have the same prognosis and response to therapy as other similarly involved cases of periodontitis as a clinical entity with a definitive treatment responsibilities.