OBJECTIVETo observe the changes of clinical conditions, and measure the GCF volume during the experimental gingivitis in Chinese for studying the relationship between the GCF volume and the development of gingival inflammation.

METHODS11 young male subjects with healthy gingiva, who had no systemic diseases, were selected for this study. GCF samples (18 teeth/person) were collected with strips of filter paper and the clinical parameters were recorded at the baseline (0 day), the 7th, 14th, 21st day (without oral hygiene), and 28th day (7 days after reestablishing oral hygiene) during experimental gingivitis. The GCF volume was measured by weighting.

RESULTSDuring the experimental gingivitis, all of the clinical parameters plaque index (PLI), bleeding index (BI), gingival index (GI) and probing index (PD) increased gradually following the plaque assembling, there were significant differences comparing the data of baseline with the data of afterwards without oral hygiene. On the 28th day, the data reduced to the level of baseline rapidly. The amount of GCF had the same tendency with the clinical parameters during the experimental gingivitis. There was positive correlation between the amount of GCF and clinical parameters.

CONCLUSIONThe amount of GCF can reflect the development of gingival inflammation.