title: Gingival bleeding in an experimental clinical trial design.
abstract: An experimental clinical trial design is described in which the onset of gingival bleeding was used as an indicator of early gingivitis. Twenty-nine dental students participated in a double-blind crossover trial utilising chlorhexidine as a known plaque inhibitor. The onset of gingival bleeding was assessed in three ways, one of which yielded a statistically significant difference in favour of the active mouthrinse (P = 0.02). The method has a role in screening agents believed to be active against gingivitis.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001645:Biguanides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005884:Gingival Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009067:Mouthwashes; D006472:Oral Hemorrhage / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D001645:Biguanides; D009067:Mouthwashes; D002710:Chlorhexidine