[A comparison between 4 subgingival bacteriologic sampling technics]

A comparative study of four classical techniques employed in the sampling of subgingival microflora (paper points, swabbing, curette and washing followed by aspiration) has been carried out. This study was based upon quantitative criteria (number of bacteria sampled) and qualitative criteria (number of morphologically distinct colonies found per sampling technique). Sampling was done on three different groups of patients: a control group, a group of patients with gingivitis and a group of patients with periodontitis. The curette sampling technique was found to be efficient both quantitatively and qualitatively. Difficulties in standardizing this method however were encountered with the failure to achieve reproducible results. For this reason the technique of paper point was preferred. This method was found to be more reliable and reproducible in each of the three groups of patients sampled.