SUBGINGIVAL TEMPERATURE AS A GINGIVAL INFLAMMATORY INDICATOR

Elevated temperature is one of 4 cardinal inflammatory signs. Previous work indicates that subgingival temperature assessments are accurate and reliable, and provide objective, quantitative information over a b road 10 degrees C range, in small 0.1 degrees C increments with a dine r, immediate report on the inflammatory status at the pocket base. How ever, complicating the use and interpretation of subgingival temperatu re assessments are its 3 forms: actual subgingival temperature, sublin gual temperature minus subgingival temperature (temperature differenti al), and a temperature indicator light. We reasoned that if one could determine which of the temperature assessments reflected the periodont al condition, and which were independent variables, they would provide new and unique information about the inflammatory status of the perio dontium. We also reasoned that by providing objective, quantitative da ta over a broad range, subgingival temperature should reduce the sampl e size required to obtain significance in clinical trials. Therefore, the purpose of this study was 2-fold: (1) to determine whether the 3 s ubgingival temperature assessments could differentiate between clinica lly defined periodontal health and disease; (2) to determine whether t he 3 assessments were dependent or independent clinical variables. The data indicated that all 3 subgingival temperature assessment methods differentiated between clinically-defined periodontal health and disea se (all p<0.02). All 3 assessments also correlated significantly (all p<0.03), but modestly (all r>0.49), with bleeding on probing. Based on scatter-plot matrices and common factor analysis, the data indicated that only actual subgingival temperature and temperature differential were independent variables. Taken together, this data indicates that s ubgingival temperature and temperature differential provide unique inf ormation about the periodontal inflammatory state. Power calculations indicated that the temperature differential may significantly reduce t he subject number required to achieve significance in clinical trials examining gingival inflammation Because of the body's rapid temperatur e response, these assessments may also significantly reduce the time r equired for gingival inflammation trials.