Correlations between different plaque indexes and bleeding on probing: A concurrent validity study.

Area of Science:

• Periodontology
• Dental Diagnostics

Background:

• Periodontal inflammation assessment relies on plaque indexes, especially those focusing on interproximal areas and gingival margins.
• Accurate plaque assessment is crucial for diagnosing and managing periodontal diseases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the concurrent validity of seven dental plaque indexes against bleeding on probing (BOP).
• To compare the performance of plaque indexes across different periodontal health statuses.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 183 individuals with complete periodontal examinations.
• Spearman correlations were used to assess the relationship between plaque indexes (Greene & Vermillion, Quigley & Hein modified by Turesky, Silness & Löe, Ainamo & Bay, O'Leary, Deinzer) and BOP percentages across different oral surfaces.

Main Results:

• Moderate correlations were observed between most plaque indexes and BOP, with the O'Leary index showing weak correlations.
• Concurrent validity was strongest in the gingival health group, with Ainamo & Bay, Greene & Vermillion, and Deinzer indexes showing strong correlations with overall BOP.
• Validity decreased in gingivitis and periodontitis groups, with many correlations becoming weak or non-significant.

Conclusions:

• The Greene & Vermillion (GV), Quigley & Hein modified by Turesky (QHT), Silness & Löe (SL), Ainamo & Bay (AB), and Deinzer (DZ) indexes demonstrate good concurrent validity with BOP in cross-sectional evaluations.
• Plaque index selection may be influenced by the specific periodontal health status of the patient population.
• These findings support the use of certain plaque indexes for assessing periodontal health and disease progression.