WEST INDIAN MEDICAL JOURNAL, cilt.59, sa.2, ss.215-218, 2010 (SCI-Expanded)
Previous researchers have shown that there exists an interaction between gingival blood flow and gingival health. The purpose of this study was to compare the papillary blood flow at sites treated by a bridge with the blood flow at untreated sites. Twenty persons with resin-bonded fixed partial dentures were included in the study. The contralateral natural teeth of the site symmetrical to that of the restorations were used as controls. Blood flow was measured from the middle point oldie papillae from both test and control sites by Laser Doppler Flowmetry (LDF). The plaque index. papillary bleeding index and probing depth measurements were recorded. There was a statistically significant difference between the test and control sites in papillary blood flow measurements and clinical indices (p < 0.05). Moreover there was statistical significance between gingival blood flow measurements and papillary bleeding index in the experimental group (p < 0.05).