Premium
Gingival Microcirculation Response to Tooth Brushing Measured by Laser Doppler Flowmetry
Author(s) -
Perry Dorothy A.,
McDowell James,
Goodis Harold E.
Publication year - 1997
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.1997.68.10.990
Subject(s) - medicine , laser doppler velocimetry , blood flow , microcirculation , dentistry , tooth brushing , perfusion , cardiology , toothbrush , materials science , brush , composite material
T his study quantified changes in blood flow following tooth brushing, using laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF). Twenty subjects had polysiloxane Stents fabricated with openings to permit placement of the LDF probe on the mesial papillae of 6 teeth. Probing depth, plaque index, and gingival index were recorded and subjects instructed in brushing. LDF initially recorded a 30.second baseline blood flow. The stent was removed and subjects brushed the site for either 3 or 10 seconds. The stent was repositioned and recordings again taken, followed by a control reading. The process was repeated 4 weeks later. Correlations between baseline and control readings were 0.585 ( P < 0.001) at the first visit, and 0.654 ( P < 0.001) at the return visit. The mean control blood flow was 156.4 perfusion units. The 3 and 10 second brushing increased the mean value 22.6 units and 21.2 units respectively (both P < 0.001). Tooth brushing for both 3 and 10 seconds significantly increased gingival blood flow in the papillary gingiva of healthy individuals. J Periodontol 1997;68:990–995 .