Related Experiment Videos
Gingival bleeding on repeat probing after different time intervals in plaque-induced gingivitis
H P Müller1, K M Barrieshi-Nusair
1Faculty of Dentistry, Kuwait University, P.O. Box 24923, Safat, 13110, Kuwait. hp.muller@hsc.edu.kw
Clinical Oral Investigations
|July 12, 2005
Summary
Assessing gingival bleeding after repeated probing in gingivitis patients shows that probing itself significantly impacts results, with agreement only observed immediately after the first probing. Associations between repeated bleeding on probing scores are generally weak.
Area of Science:
- Periodontology
- Oral Health Research
Background:
- Gingival bleeding on probing (BOP) is a key indicator of gingivitis.
- Understanding the reliability of repeated BOP measurements is crucial for accurate diagnosis and treatment monitoring.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the agreement and association of gingival bleeding after repeated periodontal probing at various time intervals.
- To determine the influence of the probing procedure itself on subsequent BOP measurements in individuals with gingivitis.
Main Methods:
- Twenty adult subjects with gingivitis underwent periodontal probing (approx. 1.27 MPa) at all tooth sites.
- Probing was repeated immediately (T0), 1 hour (T1), 4 hours (T4), and 24 hours (T24) later in different quadrants.
- Statistical analyses included calculating mean differences, repeatability coefficients, kappa estimates, and odds ratios for BOP.
Main Results:
- A total of 3,459 sites were probed twice. The mean proportion of sites with BOP was 0.23.
- Probing significantly affected repeated BOP results, with notable differences observed up to 4 hours post-initial probing.
- Agreement (kappa) was highest immediately after the first probing (0.390) and decreased significantly over time, becoming negligible at 24 hours.
Conclusions:
- Site-specific bleeding scores in gingivitis patients show limited agreement when probing is repeated.
- The act of probing itself has a lasting effect on BOP, potentially influencing results for over an hour.
- Repeat BOP measurements demonstrate weak associations, strongest immediately after the initial probing, suggesting caution in interpreting later time points.