A case report of generalized aggressive periodontitis after 25 years of follow-up

Abstract

: A patient with generalized aggressive periodontitis who underwent initial preparation, periodontal surgery, oral function recovery treatment, and supportive periodontal therapy (SPT), in whom oral function was successfully maintained for over 25 years is reported. In this case, although sufficient clinical improvement was not obtained after the initial preparation, the clinical index improved signifi-cantly after periodontal surgery, so that we could proceed with oral function recovery treatment and SPT. For sustained maintenance and stabilization of oral function over the long term, it is necessary to carefully observe the changes in the oral cavity after active periodontal therapy and after entering into the SPT phase, and to intervene aggressively, as necessary, if problems arise during SPT. Four teeth, in-cluding two third molars, had to be sacrificed during the SPT in our case, although they were extracted not due to worsening of the periodontal disease, but due to root caries. Our findings in this case under-score the difficulties in the long-term management of periodontal disease and root caries.