[Reproducibility and evaluation of gingival indices]

The inflammatory condition of the gingivae may be judged by the anamnestic indication to "gingival bleeding" and by assessing the inflammatory changes by means of the P.M.A. index and the Sulcus Bleeding Index. The patients' indications to gingival bleeding are subjective by nature, but they have proved to be highly reliable when they are obtained by three independent examinators. The testing of the P.M.A. index showed that this method is sufficiently reliable. The Sulcus Bleeding Index was not tested.