Variations in subgingival microflora from healthy and intervention sites using probing depth and bacteriologic identification criteria.

This investigation studied the changes in probing depths and subgingival microbial flora of clinically healthy and diseased sites before and after scaling and root planing. Thirty-six sites in 18 individuals were studied in two groups of patients, Group I (9 patients) had received no periodontal surgery, while group II had received surgery within the previous 4 years. Neither group had had professional prophylaxis or scaling and root planing within the previous 6 months. Group I had an average probing depth of greater than or equal to 5 mm and group II had an average of less than or equal to 4 mm. Scaling and root planing was performed on both groups at the beginning of the experiment and all patients were instructed in oral hygiene. Plaque and gingival indices, gingival fluid measurements, probing depths and dark field microscopic examination of subgingival plaque were evaluated immediately before scaling and root planing (baseline) and then once every 2 weeks for 2 months. For descriptive analysis of the data, all sites in both groups were classified according to probing depth or bacteriologic criteria. Sites with either greater than or equal to 85% nonmotile bacteria or less than or equal to 4 mm probing depth were presumed "healthy" and others were considered "diseased".(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)