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Clinical, radiographic and microbiological examination of periodontal conditions was carried out in 2 groups of married couples to assess similarities between husband and wife. The diseased probands (n= 10) exhibited advanced periodontitis and the healthy ones (n= 10) were periodontally normal. The clinical examination comprised the assessment of plaque, probing pocket depths, gingival bleeding on probing, suppuration, supragingival and subgingival calculus. The extent and type of alveolar bone loss was determined from panoramic radiographs. Bacterial samples were taken from the 6 deepest and most inflamed periodontal pockets and from stimulated saliva. The samples were cultured for Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia, Campylobacter rectus and Peptostreptococcus micros. The mean detection frequency of moderately deep pockets (4-5 mm) and deep pockets (⩾6 mm) was significantly higher in the diseased probands than in their spouses. The mean detection frequency of moderately deep pockets was significantly higher in the spouses of the diseased probands than in the spouses of the healthy ones. Deep pockets were found in 6 spouses of the diseased probands, whereas only in 2 spouses of the healthy ones. Both diseased proband and his/her spouse harbored A. actinomycetemcomitans, P. gingivalis, P. intermedia, C. rectus and P. micros in 4, 6, 9, 9 and 4 couples, respectively. Both healthy proband and his/her spouse harbored the pathogens in 0, 1, 9, 5 and 3 couples, respectively. P. gingivalis was found in 7 spouses of the diseased probands, but only in 2 spouses of the healthy ones. The results indicate that spouses of patients with advanced periodontitis may also exhibit frequent recovery of suspected periodontal pathogens and have a worse periodontal status than spouses of periodontally healthy subjects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]