Clinical and stereologic analysis of the course of early gingivitis in dogs

Abstract

In the present investigation an attempt was made to follow the sequence of events occurring in the gingival tissues of dogs reacting to the reaccumulation of microbial plaque. The experiment was performed on 5 young dogs which twice a day during a preparatory period of 5–6 months had been treated with a 2 % chlorhexidine mouthrinse. When the eruption of the permanent teeth was in a final phase a clinical examination (Plaque Index, Gingival Index, Gingival exudate measurements) was performed, biopsies sampled from predetermined tooth regions and the chlorhexidine regimen terminated. On days 1, 3, 5, 7, 14, and 28 the clinical examinations were repeated and biopsies of buccal gingival tissues taken from incisors, canines, and premolars. The gingival tissues were subjected to a stereologic analysis based on morphometric point counting procedures. On day zero small amounts of plaque were detected on most teeth. Following the termination of the chlorhexidine regimen plaque accumulation as well as gingival exudation increased. The morphometric data revealed that (1) all biopsies contained a small portion of ICT (infiltrated connective tissue) which did not increase in size with time (2) the cellular composition of ICT fluctuated but did not change its general pattern with time (3) immunoblasts were rarely seen but an unusual lymphoid cell (X‐lymphocyte) was regularly present in ICT. The possibility was discussed that chlorhexidine not only interferes with plaque formation but also may suppress some aspects of the inflammatory and immunopathologic response of the gingiva.