PLAQUE AND GINGIVITIS IN THE DECIDUOUS AND PERMANENT DENTITION

The aim of the present investigation was to monitor de novo plaque for mation and associated alterations of the gingival conditions in the de ciduous, mixed and permanent dentition in man. 31 volunteers, divided into 3 study groups participated in the trial. Group 1 was made up of 11 subjects, 4-6 years of age (deciduous dentition), group 2 comprised of 10 subjects, 8-9 years of age (mixed dentition) and group 3 includ ed 10 subjects, 14-16 years of age (permanent dentition). After a scre ening examination, each participant received detailed instruction in a proper oral hygiene technique and was subjected to professional tooth cleaning. The professional debridement and the oral hygiene instructi on were repeated after 1 week. After another week, a given day was ter med Day 0 and a baseline examination was performed. This examination i ncluded assessments of plaque and gingivitis. Each subject received an additional, comprehensive professional tooth cleaning and was asked t o abstain from all mechanical oral hygiene measures. Re-examinations w ere performed after 3 and 7 days. The findings demonstrated that: (i) during a 7-day period of no active oral hygiene, subjects with a mixed or a permanent dentition formed visible amounts of plaque and develop ed modest signs of gingivitis; (ii) during the 7 days of the trial, yo ung subjects with a fully erupted deciduous dentition formed less plaq ue than the older subjects, and failed to respond to de novo plaque fo rmation with enhanced signs of gingivitis; (iii) in subjects with a mi xed dentition, the amount of plaque formed during the 7 days of experi ment and the matching gingivitis development were similar in the decid uous and permanent tooth segments of the dentition.