Modulation of clinical expression of plaque-induced gingivitis. I. Background review and rationale

The purpose of this article is to provide the necessary background and rationale for the accompanying studies, which are ultimately aimed at identifying genetic and environmental factors determining gingivitis susceptibility.

The literature on factors reported to modify the clinical expression of gingivitis, i.e., factors that determine individual variability in gingival inflammatory response to plaque, is presented.

Clinical evidence suggests that the gingival inflammatory response to plaque accumulation may differ substantially among individuals. However, most of the available studies are of small scale and not purposely designed to address the issue. Systemic factors implicated in modulation of the clinical expression of gingivitis include metabolic, genetic, environmental and other factors. The significance of such factors in designing and conducting a large-scale experimental gingivitis trial and means to account for them are discussed.

Although several factors have been implicated, genetic or environmental factors underlying differences in gingivitis expression are not fully elucidated. The accompanying studies aim to identify and characterize, among participants in a specifically designed large-scale experimental gingivitis trial, subjects that differ significantly in their gingival inflammatory response to plaque. This is the first step in an effort to determine genetic or environmental factors underlying such differences.