Histometric analysis of infiltrated connective tissue in bleeding and non-bleeding gingivae after probing

The present study was carried out to evaluate and compare the volumetric densities of subepithelial infiltrated connective tissue (ICT) geographically in bleeding and non-bleeding gingivae with special reference to comparisons of the relationships with their corresponding stereomicroscopic findings. A total of 51 biopsies (25 bleeding and 26 non-bleeding gingival specimens) was obtained from 33 patients. After stereomicroscopic examinations, tissue sections were obtained with H&E stain. On each section, the density of ICT was calculated by volumetric analysis. The results showed that the volume of ICT in bleeding-gingiva was significantly greater than that in non-bleeding gingiva. However, there was no specific relationship between the ICT of gingiva and the visibility of vasculature by stereomicroscopy. These results suggest that increased infiltrated inflammatory volumes of gingiva may play a role in the presenting of bleeding on clinical probing, but appear not to be related to the visibility of vasculature by stereomicroscopy.