The study was undertaken to examine the changes in the gingival crevicular temperature after scaling and root planing in patients with gingivitis.
Ten systemically healthy subjects ranging in age from 24 to 26 years were selected and all subjects exh...
The study was undertaken to examine the changes in the gingival crevicular temperature after scaling and root planing in patients with gingivitis.
Ten systemically healthy subjects ranging in age from 24 to 26 years were selected and all subjects exhibited gingval inflammation and gingival crevices of less than 3mm in depth.
For each subject, the sublingual temperature was measured to compensate for subject-to-subject variations in body core temperature, and the sulcus bleeding index and the gingival crevicular temperature was recorded at the mesiobuccal, distobuccal, mesiolingual and distolingual sites of 274 teeth.
After 2 weeks following thorough scaling and root planing, all measurements were repeated.
The temperature differences relative to each subject's sublingual temperatures were analyzed using paired t-test.
The results were as follows :
1. After scaling and root planing, the sulcus bleeding index decreased significantly(P<0.005).
2. After treatment, the gingival crevicular temperature decreased totally by 1.73℃ (P<0.001). There was a tendency to a pronounced decrease of the crevicular temperature in the maxillary teeth than in the mandibular teeth.
3. After treatment, the gingival crevicular temperature decreased by 1.83℃ (P<0.01) at the buccal sites and by 1.63℃ (P<0.001) at the lingual sites. There was a tendency toa pronounced decrease of the crevicular temperature in the buccal sites than in the lingual sites.
4. After treatment, the gingival crevicular temperature decreased by 1.34℃ (P<0.001) at the posterior teeth and by 2.25℃ (P<0.001) at the anterior teeth. There was a tendency to a pronounced decrease of the crevicular temperature in the anterior teeth than in the posterior teeth.
5. After treatment, the gingival crevicular temperature decreased by 1.46℃ (P<0.001) at the posterior-buccal sites, by 1.21℃ (P<0.001) at the posterior-lingual sites, by 2.23℃ (P<0.001) at the anterior-labial sites and by 2.18℃ (P<0.01) at the anterior-lingual sites.
In conclusion, the gingival crevicular temperature decreased due to the reduction of the gingival inflammation after scaling and root planing in patients with gingivitis and this suggests that the crevicular temperature measurement may be a useful means for diagnosis of gingivitis and determination of healing processes.