THE EFFECT OF A SINGLE MECHANICAL TREATMENT ON THE SUBGINGIVAL MICROFLORA IN PATIENTS WITH HIV-ASSOCIATED GINGIVITIS

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of a si ngle episode of scaling and root planing on clinical periodontal param eters and on the subgingival microflora in human immunodeficiency viru s (HIV)-positive and HIV-negative subjects. 13 subjects participated a nd were clinically scored at days -7, 7, 30 and 90.7 subjects were inf ected with HIV and presented an HIV-associated gingivitis. 6 subjects were HIV-negative with at least 12 teeth affected by conventional ging ivitis. No significant differences were seen between both groups regar ding the presence of P. gingivalis, P. intemedia and A. actinomycetemc omitans. The mean plaque index (PII) was 1.79 in the HIV-negative and 1.29 in the HIV-positive group. The mean gingival index (GI) was highe r in the HV-positive group (HIV-positive: 1.55; HIV-negative: 1.47). W hereas, the PII decreased significantly in the HIV-negative group duri ng the course of the study no change was observed in the HIV-positive group. GI as well as bleeding upon sampling decreased significantly in both patient groups during the same period. The bacterial counts decr eased from day -7 to day 7 and generally remained on a lower level unt il day 90. Small differences were seen in the microbiological flora of the HIV-positive and the HIV-negrative subjects following mechanical treatment. (C) Munksgaard, 1996.