Persistent Gingival Bleeding Related to Periodontal Disease

Area of Science:

• Oral Surgery
• Periodontology
• Internal Medicine

Background:

• Persistent gingival bleeding (PGB) related to periodontal disease (PD) is a frequent reason for evening and night visits to oral surgery clinics.
• Limited characterization exists for PD-PGB, necessitating detailed investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a detailed characterization of patients presenting with persistent gingival bleeding (PGB) associated with periodontal disease (PD).
• To identify demographic, systemic, and clinical factors associated with PD-PGB.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 295 patients with non-traumatic gingival bleeding (GB) treated between January 2014 and December 2022.
• Demographic data, systemic diseases, and bleeding characteristics were collected.
• Comparison with a control group (temporomandibular joint dislocation and minor trauma patients).

Main Results:

• 91 patients (30.1%) were diagnosed with PD-PGB.
• PD-PGB was prevalent in 93.4% of patients over 60 years old.
• Patients with PD-PGB had higher rates of anticoagulant/antiplatelet use (57.1% vs 24.2%) and hypertension (68.1% vs 34.1%) compared to controls.
• Bleeding primarily occurred in molars with pocket depths exceeding 4 mm.

Conclusions:

• PD-PGB, particularly with deep periodontal pockets, is more common in older individuals.
• Anticoagulant/antiplatelet therapy and hypertension significantly aggravate PD-PGB.
• PD-PGB is not rare; periodontal maintenance and regular dental check-ups are vital preventive strategies.