Periodontosis: a phenotypic and genetic analysis.

Two families who provide additional data concerning the metabolic, radiographic, and clinical parameters of periodontosis are presented. These findings include decreased serum alkaline phosphatase levels with absent liver isozyme fractions, decreased tubular bone over-all width and medullary space with relatively increased cortical area, and at least one case of primary dentition alveoloclasia with no permanent dentition alveoloclasia. In addition, a segregation analysis was performed on these two families and all completely reported families found in the literature. The results indicate that periodontosis is most probably inherited as an X-linked, dominant trait with decreased penetrance but relatively consistent gene expressivity. The female: male ratio of affected persons is approximately 2:1, and there is an over-all deficiency of males in these affected families.