Professional flossing as a diagnostic method for gingivitis in the primary dentition

Citation:
Mariath, AA, Bressani AE, Haas AN, Araujo FB, Rosing CK.  2008.  Professional flossing as a diagnostic method for gingivitis in the primary dentition, Oct-Dec. Braz Oral Res. 22:316-21., Number 4

Abstract:

The aim of this study was to evaluate flossing as a diagnostic method for interproximal gingival bleeding in children. For this crossover study, 23 pre-schoolchildren presenting neither restorations nor approximal carious cavities and with at least 15% of gingival bleeding sites were selected. Examinations were performed at three different moments (3-4 days interval). Examinations comprised repeated measurements of two gingival indices with a 10-minute interval in the following sequences: the Ainamo & Bay Gingival Bleeding Index (GBI) followed by the Carter & Barnes flossing index (CBI); CBI followed by GBI; and GBI followed by GBI. Data analysis was performed only for the interproximal sites, considering the GBI as the gold-standard. Agreement between indices, sensitivity (SE), specificity (SP), positive (PPV) and negative predictive values (NPV) were estimated. Percentage agreements in sequences GBI-CBI, CBI-GBI and GBI-GBI were 70.3%, 76.4% and 84.5%, respectively. Validation of flossing in the first sequence (GBI-CBI) resulted in values of 0.61 (95%CI 0.53 - 0.68), 0.72 (95%CI 0.69 - 0.76), 0.33 (95%CI 0.28 - 0.39) and 0.89 (95%CI 0.86 - 0.92) respectively for SE, SP, PPV and NPV. It can be concluded that professional flossing is a useful tool in the diagnosis of interproximal gingival inflammatory status in children, especially in conditions of gingival health.

Notes:

Mariath, Adriela Azevedo SouzaBressani, Ana Eliza LemesHaas, Alex NogueiraAraujo, Fernando Borba deRosing, Cassiano KuchenbeckerengValidation StudiesBrazil2009/01/17 09:00Braz Oral Res. 2008 Oct-Dec;22(4):316-21.

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