Dental bacterial biofilm and gingival status in cystic fibrosis adult patients

Abstract

Introduction: The purpose of the study conducted on cystic fibrosis (CF) patients was the bacterial plaque accumulation and the gingival condition assessment, and microbial analysis of the subgingival biofilm. Materials/Methods: The study included 22 CF adult patients and 22 healthy controls, sex and age compatible with the CF patients. The dental plaque was assessed using plaque index (PLI), and the gingival status using gingival index (GI). Analyses of the subgingival biofilm were performed by the real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. Results: The mean value of GI in CF patients was 0.39 ±0.36 and was significantly lower comparing to the healthy controls (1.02 ±0.63), PLI was similar in both the groups (1.31 ±0.69) for the study group and 1.04 ±0.62 for controls). In CF patients there was no correlation between PLI and GI, which was observed in the control group. In both the groups there was a correlation between PLI and the total number of periopathogens. Furthermore, in the control group, there was a correlation between GI and the number of periopathogens. Such a correlation was not observed in the CF patients. Conclusions: In patients with CF, the lack of correlation between the amount of tooth deposits and the gingival condition may indicate a stable, most likely pharmacologically conditioned oral biofilm ecology. Among the aetiological factors of gingivitis and periodontitis in patients with CF, the bacterial activity does not seem to be modified. However, the unsatisfactory oral hygiene found in the study participants does not exclude the possibility of disease development in the future.