PREVALENCE OF GINGIVITIS IN 6-YEAR-OLDS IN REYKJAVIK, ICELAND

As part of a wider investigation of malocclusion, the aim of this stud y was to determine the prevalence of gingivitis in 6-year-olds in Reyk javik. Parents and guardians of the 401 children in 8 schools were inv ited by letter to have their children take part. There were 230 positi ve replies (57%). The Gingival Bleeding Index was used to determine th e condition of the gingiva on mesiobuccal and buccal surfaces of 6 sel ected teeth (totaling 12 surfaces). The results showed that 26% had he althy gingivae, 23% showed bleeding from one surface, 20% from two, 17 % from three, and 15% from four to eight surfaces. There were no stati stically significant differences in the number of bleeding surfaces be tween boys and girls. The mean GBI for the whole group was 16%. Gingiv itis in this group was therefore prevalent but usually slight.