Assessment of tooth mobility using small loads. III. Effect of periodontal treatment including a gingivectomy procedure

The effect on tooth mobility of periodontal treatment utilizing a gingivectomy procedure was studied during a period of 26 weeks in 25 maxillary anterior teeth of six subjects with moderate to advanced periodontal disease. The gingival conditions were evaluated by gingival fluid measurement and the loss of marginal bone as seen on radiographs. Tooth mobility was measured in a bucco-lingual direction using forces between 20 p and 80 p. The results show a decrease of gingival fluid throughout the study. Tooth mobility was already reduced in the majority of teeth 2 weeks after surgery. An average reduction of tooth mobility amounting to 43.7% (using the corrective formula of Mühlemann 1960) was observed after 4 weeks. No additional reduction took place during the remaining experimental period.