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Bleeding on probing. A parameter for monitoring periodontal conditions in clinical practice
Author(s) -
Joss Andreas,
Adler Rolf,
Lang Niklaus P.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
journal of clinical periodontology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.456
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1600-051X
pISSN - 0303-6979
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-051x.1994.tb00737.x
Subject(s) - medicine , dentistry , clinical practice , periodontitis , periodontal disease , intensive care medicine , physical therapy
. The present study is a follow‐up report on the use of bleeding on probing (BOP) as a clinical indicator for disease progression or periodontal stability, respectively. Following active periodontal therapy, 39 patients were incorporated in a program of supportive periodontal therapy for a period of 53 months with recall intervals varying between 2–8 months. The patients received supportive therapy 7 to 14 ×. At the beginning of each maintenance visit, the tissues were evaluated using BOP. Reinstrumentation was only performed at sites which bled on probing. However, supragingival plaque and calculus were always removed. Probing depth and probing attachment levels were determined after active treatment and at the conclusion of the study. Progression of periodontal disease was defined by a measured loss of probing attachment of 2 mm or more. During the observation period, 4.2% of all the sites lost attachment. Approximately 50% of these losses were due to periodontal disease progression, while the other half was the result of attachment loss in conjunction with recession of the gingiva. 2/3 of all the sites which lost attachment were found in a group of patients which presented a mean BOP 30%. In a group of patients‐with a mean BOP of 20%, only 1/5 of the loser sites were found. This clearly indicated, that patients with a mean BOP of 20% have a significantly lower risk for further loss of probing attachment at single sites.