An evaluation of laser Doppler readings obtained from human gingival sulci

A small laser doppler probe with an outside diameter comparable to a conventional periodontal probe (0.5 mm) was developed. The objectives of this investigation were to determine if intrasulcular laser doppler readings (LDR): 1) are reproducible; 2) can detect vascular changes associated with trauma from probe placement; 3) were reproducible when obtained with a stabilizing stent or without a stent; and 4) could detect vascular changes following the injection of a local anesthetic with vasoconstrictor. Nine adult volunteers with clinically healthy gingiva were evaluated for 30 second intervals at 5 sites. Baseline LDR were obtained twice at each site utilizing an acrylic stent to stabilize the probe and once without the stent (trial 1). All LDR were repeated at one month (trial 2) and again two months (trial 3) after baseline. One additional reading per subject was obtained following the administration of a local anesthetic with a vasoconstrictor during the second trial. Inter-trial comparisons found no significant difference in mean LDR between any of the three observation times. However, intra-trial comparison between the first and second LDR revealed an increase of approximately 50% in mean LDR. A 3-fold reduction in mean LDR (P < 0.001) was noted following the administration of a local anesthetic with vasoconstrictor. Intra-class correlation coefficients for stent stabilized LDR were 0.51 (P < 0.01) and 0.63 (P < 0.01) while intra-class correlation for hand held LDR was 0.40 (P < 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)