A MULTICENTER CLINICAL-TRIAL OF A NEW CHAIRSIDE TEST IN DISTINGUISHING BETWEEN DISEASED AND HEALTHY PERIODONTAL SITES .2. ASSOCIATION BETWEEN SITE TYPE AND TEST OUTCOME BEFORE AND AFTER THERAPY

THE AIM OF THE PRESENT STUDY WAS TO EVALUATE the association between t he outcome of a chairside test measuring gingival crevicular fluid (GC F) levels of the enzyme aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and other cli nical measures of disease including probing depth, severity of inflamm ation, and GCF flow before and after therapy. We studied 91 patients w ith moderate to severe periodontitis. Eight sites with probing depths between 5 mm and 8 mm and obvious signs of inflammation were selected and designated diseased sites. Four sites with probing depth less than or equal to 3 mm with no or minimal signs of inflammation were select ed and designated non-diseased sites in patients. Thirty healthy indiv iduals were enrolled and four sites in each were selected and designat ed healthy controls. Patients were treated with scaling and root plani ng and control subjects with supragingival prophylaxis. Measurements i ncluding GCF volume, gingival inflammation, and probing depth were per formed at screening baseline, 1 week later at pretreatment baseline, a nd at weeks 2 and 4 after treatment. AST content of GCF was measured u sing a chairside colorometric test. It was concluded that the outcome of the test is an effective objective measure distinguishing between d iseased sites and non-diseased sites in patients and control subjects when evaluated both prior to and following application of therapy. Use of this simple chairside test, when combined with other standard diag nostic procedures, provides an objective measurement permitting improv ed capacity to distinguish between diseased and non-diseased periodont al sites, and to better assess and monitor the outcome of therapy.