[Blood flow in marginal gingiva as measured with laser Doppler flowmetry]

The clinical application of laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) provides data on the blood flow of marginal gingiva (GBF) at different dental regions. The aim of the present investigation was to study the GBF at different teeth. Ten adult subjects with good oral hygiene were involved in this experiment. In a series of experiments GBF was recorded bilaterally positioned the flow probe on three sites 1 mm above the marginal gingiva of the upper and lower central incisors. In another series of investigations the same technique was used for GBF registrations at six permanent teeth on the right side (11-16; according to FDI notation). The mean blood flow values obtained at 3 different places of marginal gingiva of the front teeth were nearly identical, therefore the data were pooled. The GBF values registered at the six upper right teeth also showed close similarity (p > 0.30). No differences were observed between the mean GBF values at the left and right central incisors (p > 0.80). There was a significant gingival blood flow value elevation at lower incisors as compared to that in the upper jaw (p < 0.05). Our results indicate that there is homogeneous marginal blood perfusion both in the maxillary and mandibula healthy gingiva. However, difference exists in blood supply between the upper and lower jaws in favor of mandibular marginal gingiva.