Gingival inflammation and bone loss in periodontal disease

Abstract

Fifty subjects between 27 and 43 years of age were studied to determine the relationship between the severity of gingival inflammation, the amount of bone loss and the plaque score in interproximal sites. The results indicate moderately good correlations between Gingival Index or Plaque Index and percentage bone loss. However a low correlation was found between the amount of crevicular fluid and percentage loss. Gingival Index and Plaque Index were well correlated. It was also found that when patients were divided into two age groups, younger and older than 35 years, the older individuals studied had more bone loss interproximally compared with the younger despite comparable amounts of plaque or gingival inflammation. The data suggest that both severity and longevity of the inflammation may play a role in determining the rate of alveolar bone resorption.