A correlation study of inflammatory cell mobilization in response to subgingival microbial colonization

This study evaluated site-by-site the relations between subgingival microbial colonization and gingival tissue reactions. Experimental, deep periodontal defects were established at buccal surfaces of mandibular and maxillary canine teeth in 5 beagle dogs. The root surfaces were instrumented by a flame-shaped, fine-grained, rotating diamond point, or by a sharp curet. Following a 10-day postsurgical healing period, the dogs were fed a plaque-inducing diet for 70 days. The animals were then sacrificed and tissue blocks of the experimental sites including teeth and periodontal tissues were secured. The buccal gingiva was removed and processed for histomorphometric analysis while the teeth were prepared for scanning electron microscopic evaluation of the extent of subgingival microbial colonization. The results revealed that inflammatory cell density in the junctional epithelium and in the connective tissue were positively correlated to subgingival microbial colonization (P < 0.01). Furthermore, the degree of significance decreased with increasing distance from the plaque. The present study demonstrates that a close relation may exist between the extent of subgingival microbial colonization and inflammatory gingival tissue reactions.