PLAQUE-FORMATION AT HEALTHY AND INFLAMED GINGIVAL SITES IN YOUNG INDIVIDUALS

The present investigation was performed to evaluate the influence of g ingivitis on the amount of de novo plaque that forms during a 24-h per iod of no oral hygiene. 292 fully dentate subjects participated in the study. The condition of the gingiva and the presence of supragingival plaque were examined at 4 surfaces of each tooth at a baseline examin ation. Following this examination, the participants were subjected to a comprehensive mechanical tooth cleaning and instructed to refrain fr om tooth cleaning measures during the subsequent 24 h. The plaque exam inations were repeated at the end of the 24-h period. The results from the clinical trial revealed that during a 24-h period of no tooth cle aning, subjects with naturally occurring overt gingivitis, in general, formed more plaque than young individuals with healthy gingivae. Furt hermore, plaque in all parts of the dentition, formed more frequently on tooth surfaces adjacent to sites with gingivitis than at healthy si tes. It was concluded that the condition of the gingiva plays an impor tant role for de novo plaque formation.