Aim

Periodontitis in primary dentition is exceptional in children without systemic diseases. The objective of this article is to describe the clinical and radiographic characteristics of two cases of systemically healthy 3-year-old children with periodontitis, and their treatment, with a 5-year follow-up.

Clinical cases

In both cases, at 3 years of age, the children were referred to a periodontic specialist by their pediatric dentist, due to the very early loss of lower incisors. Clinical and radiographic examination showed loss of clinical attachment, bone loss and dental mobility in other upper and lower incisors. A medical consultation was carried out and diseases related to the diagnosis of periodontitis as a manifestation of a systemic disease were ruled out. The treatment consisted of instruction on oral hygiene measures that had to be carried out by the parents, subgingival instrumentation, local antiseptics, systemic antibiotic medication, and periodontal maintenance. No extractions were performed as part of the treatment. In both cases, one of the incisors present at the time of consultation was lost prematurely, before the age of 4 years. The rest of the primary incisors completed their normal cycle. After 5 years of follow-up, at the age of 8 years, both children showed periodontally healthy incisors and first permanent molars, and the rest of the primary teeth without signs of periodontitis.