Abstract
Clinical periodontal status is among the major determinants of the volumetric features of GCF. Previous studies have shown that probing depth, presence/severity of gingival and periodontal inflammation affect the biodynamics of GCF. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the impact of the clinical periodontal status on volumetric features of gingival crevicular fluid. Thirty-six patients were equally divided into healthy group, gingivitis group and periodontitis group. Clinical periodontal status was assessed by recording: papillary bleeding index, probing pocket depth and clinical attachment level. Gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) samples were obtained from 4 sites in each patient. The mean volume of GCF was determined in each group for comparison. Further in periodontitis group, GCF samples were also collected from healthy sites, gingivitis sites and periodontitis sites. Mean GCF volume recorded by using Periotron (R) 8000 in healthy gingival group, gingivitis group and periodontitis group were: 0.04, 0.09, 0.78 mu l respectively. There was increase in GCF volume in a diseased related pattern, healthy gingival group < gingivitis group < periodontitis group. In periodontitis group, the sites with healthy gingiva showed significantly higher GCF volume than healthy gingival group (0.11 mu l Vs 0.04 mu l), similarly, the sites with gingivitis in periodontitis group also showed significantly higher GCF volume than gingivitis group (0.32 mu l Vs 0.11 mu l). The present study suggests that the volumetric analysis of GCF could be sensitive and reliable indicator of periodontal health. The ability of GCF volume as a chair side measure to differentiate healthy sites from sites with mild disease within the same mouth is considered noteworthy.