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An Evaluation of Laser Doppler Readings Obtained From Human Gingival Sulci
Author(s) -
Hinrichs James E.,
LaBelle Leilani L.,
Aeppli Dorothee
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
journal of periodontology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.036
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1943-3670
pISSN - 0022-3492
DOI - 10.1902/jop.1995.66.3.171
Subject(s) - medicine , laser doppler velocimetry , stent , anesthetic , nuclear medicine , anesthesia , urology , surgery , cardiology , blood flow
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 3fold 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). Results from this study demonstrate: 1) intrasulcular LDR are reproducible at one and two month intervals; 2) trauma associated with probe placement results in increased LDR; 3) statistically significant intra‐class coefficients exist for both stent stabilized and non‐stent‐stabilized LDR, however, higher correlation coefficients were found for stent‐stabilized LDR; and 4) a highly significant reduction in LDR was noted following the administration of local anesthetic with vasoconstrictor. J Periodontol 1995; 66:171–176 .