IN PERIODONTICS there is a need for objective measurements in monitoring disease processes and in assessing the effectiveness of treatment. The purpose of this study was to compare gingival temperatures with indicators of gingival inflammation in order to examine the application of temperature as a diagnostic aid. In six patients the temperature of interproximal sulcular tissue was measured and compared with bleeding upon probing, crevicular fluid flow, pocket depth, plaque accumulation and calculus formation. The results show significantly higher temperatures with bleeding upon probing and with the presence of dental plaque and calculus. Temperature increase correlated with increase in crevicular fluid flow, but a relationship to pocket depth is not clear. The thermocouple microprobe is a very sensitive instrument. The method used is noninvasive, safe and efficient. It can be concluded from our data that differences in gingival temperature reflect not only a regional tissue variability but also can indicate an inflammatory state.

The purpose of this investigation was to study the pattern and constancy of temperatures recorded in the gingival crevices and some factors affecting them. The temperatures of the interproximal crevices in the maxillary and mandibular arch of 16 female dental hygiene students were evaluated at the time of examination, immediately afterwards and following a 14-day interval. The temperature difference between each site and the subject's sublingual temperature were calculated. In the analysis, a comparison of sites with a confirmed status of bleeding tendency and pocket depth was carried out. The results show temperature differences between arches (mandible vs maxilla) and regions (posterior vs anterior). The differences are independent of the health status. Inflamed gingiva generally has a higher temperature than clinically healthy gingiva. There is an indication that healthy tissue, more than inflamed tissue, reacts to an outside stimulus with an increase in temperature. It is necessary that environmental and stimulative factors are strictly controlled if temperature gradients are to be applied for diagnostic purposes in periodontics.

Experimental gingivitis was induced and monitored in young and elderly subjects. After