Comparison of Two Different Sampling Methods for Subgingival Plaque: Subgingival Paper Points or Mouthrinse Sample?

Area of Science:

• Periodontology
• Microbiology
• Diagnostic Science

Background:

• Subgingival plaque sampling using paper points is invasive, time-consuming, and prone to accidents.
• Saliva collection is a simpler, less invasive method that reflects pathogens from all oral surfaces.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the comparability of a mouthrinse sampling strategy (MSP) with the standard multiple-site paper point sampling method (MT4) for detecting periodontal pathogens in periodontitis patients.

Main Methods:

• Fifty periodontitis patients provided both subgingival plaque samples from the deepest pocket in each quadrant using paper points (MT4) and saliva samples via saline mouthrinse (MSP).
• Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to analyze 11 common periodontal pathogens in both sample types.

Main Results:

• The multiple-site test (MT4) demonstrated higher detection frequencies for several key periodontal pathogens, including Porphyromonas gingivalis, Tannerella forsythia, Treponema denticola, Parvimonas micra, Campylobacter rectus, and Eubacterium nodatum.
• No significant difference in detection frequency was observed for Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans between MT4 and MSP.
• Capnocytophaga species showed a higher detection frequency with the mouthrinse sample (MSP).

Conclusions:

• While the standard multiple-site paper point method (MT4) detected a higher frequency of certain key periodontal pathogens, the mouthrinse sample (MSP) provides a viable, less invasive alternative.
• The mouthrinse sampling method (MSP) is comparable to the paper point method (MT4) for detecting Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans.