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Gingival health and gingivitis development during puberty. A 4-year longitudinal study
A Mombelli1, F A Gusberti, M A van Oosten
1University of Berne, School of Dental Medicine, Switzerland.
Journal of Clinical Periodontology
|August 1, 1989
Summary
Puberty significantly increases gingival bleeding tendency in children, peaking between ages 11-15. This oral health change correlates with pubertal development markers, with bleeding decreasing after age 14.
Area of Science:
- Oral Health
- Pediatric Dentistry
- Human Physiology
Background:
- Gingival health can be influenced by hormonal changes.
- Puberty involves significant physiological development, including hormonal shifts.
- Understanding oral conditions during puberty is crucial for pediatric dental care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To track gingival condition development throughout puberty.
- To correlate oral clinical parameters with chronological age.
- To link oral health indicators with pubertal development markers.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study of 22 boys and 20 girls aged 11-15 years.
- Monitoring of pubertal and skeletal development.
- Assessment of plaque index (PlI), gingival index (GI), and papillary bleeding index (PBI) over time.
Main Results:
- Papillary bleeding index (PBI) and bleeding interdental sites significantly increased with puberty onset.
- Peak bleeding occurred 1-5 years into puberty in 35% of children.
- Bleeding tendency decreased after age 14; PlI and GI showed no significant trends.
Conclusions:
- Gingival bleeding tendency is strongly linked to pubertal development.
- Hormonal changes during puberty impact periodontal health.
- Specific pubertal development markers correlate with increased gingival bleeding.