Microcirculation of the healthy human gingiva

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the microcirculation in healthy human gingiva. Forty-two adult volunteers with clinically healthy gingiva participated. The ages of this research sample ranged from 20 to 30 years. Periodontal conditions were evaluated and assessed by using the qualitative plaque index, gingival index, gingival bleeding index, tooth mobility, and laser Doppler flow-metry (LDF) on 12 maxillary and mandibular anterior teeth. The LDF data were recorded on the facial aspect of the free gingiva, interdental gingiva, attached gingiva, and alveolar mucosa of 12 maxillary and mandibular anterior teeth, utilizing an acrylic stent to stabilize the probe. This technique was then modified to circumvent contamination by saliva and gingival exudate. Blood flow in the maxillary anterior gingiva differed significantly from that in the mandibular anterior gingiva in interdental gingiva, attached gingiva, and alveolar mucosa, at P< 0.01. The maxillary anterior gingiva, at each point on the stent, showed significant differences in the mean LDF, at P< 0.01. For the mandibular anterior gingiva, the difference was significant only in the alveolar mucosa region.

Microcirculation and micromorphology of healthy and inflamed gingivae

“…A 0.5-mm wax spacer (Yeti; Dentalprodukte, Engen, Germany) was placed over the gingival area of the stone models. 29 The stent allowed accurate positioning and repositioning of the laser Doppler flowmeter probe at 90°t o the gingival surface between the right and left maxillary canines in 20 standardized locations: 6 at the free gingivae, 5 at the interdental gingivae, 5 at the attached gingivae, and 4 at the alveolar mucosae. LDF readings were monitored for at least 15 min or until they had stabilized.…”

Blood flow and human periodontal status

“…25 A 0.5-mm wax spacer (Yeti Dentalprodukte, Engen, Germany) was applied over the gingival area of the stone models. A custom self-curing acrylic stent (Formatray; Kerr Manufacturing, Romulus, MI, USA) was fabricated to position the probe in relation to soft tissues at 90°to the gingival surface between the right and left of the maxillary canines in 20 standardized locations: 6 at the free gingivae, 5 at the interdental gingivae, 5 at the attached gingivae, and 4 at the alveolar mucosae.…”

Doppler flowmetry as a tool of predictive, preventive and personalised dentistry

“…However, there exists a difference in blood supply of marginal gingiva of the upper and lower jaws [49] as well as a difference between blood flow at the premolar and molar sites and front teeth sites [50]. A statistically significant difference was also demonstrated between blood supply in the maxillary and the mandibular anterior gingiva in the interdental gingiva, attached gingiva and alveolar mucosa [51]. The difference was significant for the mandibular anterior gingiva only in the alveolar mucosa region [51].…”

“…A statistically significant difference was also demonstrated between blood supply in the maxillary and the mandibular anterior gingiva in the interdental gingiva, attached gingiva and alveolar mucosa [51]. The difference was significant for the mandibular anterior gingiva only in the alveolar mucosa region [51]. …”

“…However, studies indicate controversies in an existing relationship between plaque accumulation, gingival inflammation and tissue microcirculation. The growth of blood flow in an inflamed gingiva in comparison with a healthy gingiva was demonstrated in several animal [42,59,60] and clinical studies [13,51,61-63]. According to Kerdvongbundit et al, inflammation alters the microcirculatory and micromorphologic dynamics of the human gingiva before and after conventional treatment (scaling and root planning) [62,63]; however, blood flow returned to normal after treatment and remained stable for 3 months post-treatment.…”