Radiographic Evaluation of Juvenile Periodontitis (periodontosis)

Of 49,380 male naval recruits who were screened for juvenile periodontitis (JP), 270 were clinically diagnosed as having the disease. Full-mouth radiographs identified 182 of these 270 patients as having JP with extensive bone loss on permanent first molars and/or incisors. These 182 patients, 137 (75.3%) of whom were black, were further classified into Type I: bone loss involving first molars and/or incisors and up to two additional teeth; Type II: involvement of first molars/incisors and several additional teeth; and Type III: generalized involvement (more than 14 teeth) but with bone loss notably more extensive on the first molars and/or incisors. Of the 182 patients, 129 (70.9%) were Type I; 43 (23.6%) were Type II, and 10 (5.5%) were Type III. The molars were involved more frequently than the incisors; more than one molar was always involved, with or without incisor involvement. Most cases had minimal or no radiographic caries, and 46% had demonstrable calculus. Of the remaining 88 cases from the 270 with the initial diagnosis of JP, 63 demonstrated severe bone loss on more than 14 teeth, with many of the teeth being involved to the same degree. These cases were termed rapidly progressive periodontitis. Six of the 88 cases had bone loss on only one tooth surface of the dentition. These cases were termed acute localized destruction of alveolar bone. The status of the other 19 cases could not be determined.