Influence of restorative manipulations on the blood perfusion of human marginal gingiva as measured by laser Doppler flowmetry

Abstract

Plaque accumulation caused by deficient fixed prosthodontics may evoke unequal degrees of gingival inflammation. Clinical investigation was performed to study the reaction of marginal gingiva during the course of routine prosthetic rehabilitation, e.g. replacement of two two-unit fixed partial dentures for aesthetic and functional reasons in a female patient. To characterize the actual state of gingival margin we recorded conventional gingivitis indices in conjunction with the employment of non-invasive laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) for gingival perfusion measurements. Prior to the treatment procedures (control phase) the gingival indices were scored to 1 at all the five measuring points. At the end of the rehabilitation those values decreased to zero. A significant correlation was found between gingival indices and LDF readings (r=0.37, n=49, P < 0.01). Thus, our data suggest that monitoring of gingival blood perfusion by LDF may provide valuable information on the healing process of inflamed marginal gingiva.