MICROBIAL CONSTITUENTS AND VOLUME OF GINGIVAL CREVICULAR FLUID IN ADULT FEMALES WITH MALOCCLUSION IN BENIN CITY, NIGERIA

Microorganisms exist in the mouth, within saliva and periodontal pockets which contain gingival crevicular fluid (GCF). Malocclusion predisposes to a poor oral hygiene and results in stagnation especially in the lower anterior segment. This results in gingivitis which may progress to periodontitis and resultant pocket formation with an increased GCF volume and a pronounced bacterial presence within the GCF. The aim of this prospective study was to determine the bacterial flora and volume of GCF in adult females with malocclusion and compare with a control group of normal women in Benin City, Nigeria. A total of 152 randomly selected women aged 26-65 years, were divided into two groups. Group 1: Malocclusion; n=82 (54%) (Crowding-41, spacing-39 and anterior open bite-2) and Group 2: Normal occlusion; n=70 (46%). GCF volume and content was measured then analysed after being inoculated onto blood, chocolate and MacConkey agar plates which were incubated for 24 hours at 37 degrees C aerobic ally except chocolate agar, which was incubated in a candle jar. Correlations between age, probing depth, malocclusion and GCF microbial content werg determined usingtlifi SPSS(version 16) software. Significant values of P 0.05 were applied were applicable. The results revealed kliebsiella as the most prevalent microorganism which was isolated in 10(12.2%) and 12 (17.2%) of groups 1 and 2 respectively. There was a higher distribution of both Streptococcus and Staphylococcus in the control group, 10(14.3%) and 4(5.7%) when compared with the malocclusion group in 5(6.1%) and 3(3.7%) respectively. There was however no significant difference between both groups and the different microorganisms in the GCF analysed. There was a highly significant relationship between oral hygiene (OH) and GCF volume (P 0.01). Pocket depths of 0.5mm to 7mm were recorded and there was also no correlation between probing pocket depth and GCF microbial composition, kliebsiella was highest in GCF volumes of 0.62/µL in women with poor oral hygiene (OH) and in spacing. There was a significant relationship between anterior open bite and microorganisms cultured from the GCF. This study revealed that kliebsiella is the most prevalent anaerobe in gingival crevicular fluid and the highest volume of 1.86/µl was observed in adult women with malocclusion in Benin City.