Periodontal diseases are a major health problem affecting tooth-supporting tissues. Among them, aggressive periodontitis is characterized by rapid progression, family aggregation, systemically healthy patients ( 1 ), and is subdivided into localized and generalized according to the extent of the disease. Microbiota plays a major role in the etiopathogenesis of these diseases, including Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia, Tannerella forsythia and Fusobacterium nucleatum. The aim of this work was to study the prevalence of these microorganisms in 50 Uruguayan patients with aggressive periodontitis. Detection was conducted with conventional bacteriological techniques and PCR. In the generalized disorders, a higher prevalence of F. nucleatum and P. intermedia was observed, although P. gingivalis and T. forsythia were also important. In the localized disorders, P. intermedia, F. nucleatum and A. actinomycetemcomitans were the main ones. A similar flora to other geographical locations was present in our country.

The diversity approach in health focuses on recognizing and paying special attention to the different interests, demands, needs and health-disease processes specific to certain people. Ethnic-racial considerations in these cases become fundamental.In Uruguay, census data show that 8.1% of the population (approximately 255,000 people) consider themselves Afrodescendants, which makes them the main ethnic-racial minority of the country.To date, there are no surveys on the periodontal condition of Afrodescendant population in our country.Objective: to evaluate the oral and periodontal status of patients through health-disease process indicators.Materials and methods: descriptive, cross-sectional study of the Afro-Uruguayan population. Inclusion criteria: age range from 15 to 35, living in Montevideo. Exclusion criteria: pregnancy, having received periodontal treatment or treatment with antibiotics in the last 6 months. The size of each population sample with or without African origin was of 40 individuals each, half men, half women. The Rediente Clinical History was used, the periodontal parameters were recorded using a periodontal probe calibrated by millimeter, and six sites per tooth were examined in a full mouth.Results: the group of Afrodescendants have one less tooth, on average, than non-Afrodescendants, especially the first mandibular molars. They also show higher prevalence, depth and severity of attachment loss compared to the control group. No statistically significant differences were found in probing depth between the two groups.Conclusions: Afrodescendants became part of the popular sectors of society, which makes them more vulnerable. In the age range considered (15-35), Afrodescendants have higher prevalence, extension and severity of clinical attachment loss than non-Afrodescendants. No statistically significant differences were found in the considered age range regarding probing depth in the populations examined.