MICROBIOLOGICAL PROFILE OF GINGIVAL BIOFILM IN INFLAMMATORY PERIODONTAL DISEASES: A COMPARATIVE STUDY

Abstract

Introduction. Although the species composition of periodontopathogens has been studied extensively, inflammatory periodontal diseases remain associated with complex polymicrobial biofilms whose composition may vary with disease severity. Comparative characterization of gingival and subgingival microbial profiles is therefore relevant for microbiologically informed periodontal management. Objective. To compare the qualitative and quantitative composition of gingival biofilm microflora in patients with chronic catarrhal gingivitis and chronic generalized periodontitis of moderate severity. Materials and Methods. A comparative clinical microbiological study included 24 patients with inflammatory periodontal diseases: 10 with chronic catarrhal gingivitis and 14 with chronic generalized periodontitis of moderate severity. Gingival and subgingival biofilm samples were cultured under aerobic and anaerobic conditions, and isolates were identified using morphological, cultural, tinctorial, and biochemical characteristics. Detection frequency and colonization density were evaluated. Results. In chronic catarrhal gingivitis, the dominant microbial profiles were a Streptococcus mutans monodominant profile (40.0%) and polymicrobial aerobic-anaerobic associations (30.0%). In moderate chronic generalized periodontitis, polymicrobial aerobic-anaerobic associations predominated (35.7%), followed by an invasive beta-hemolytic streptococcal profile (21.4%) and a monodominant Streptococcus mutans profile (21.4%). Discussion. The culture-based findings indicate a shift from a predominantly resident coccal pattern in gingivitis toward a more diverse polymicrobial and anaerobe-associated profile in periodontitis. Because of the small sample, absence of a healthy control group, and culture-dependent methodology, the findings should be interpreted as descriptive and hypothesis-generating. Conclusion. The two periodontal conditions showed distinct culture-based microbial profiles. The greater diversity of polymicrobial aerobic-anaerobic associations in moderate generalized periodontitis supports the value of microbiological profiling in periodontal assessment, while the clinical efficacy of specific antimicrobial regimens requires separate prospective evaluation.