title: Current status of indices of gingivitis.
abstract: Gingival indices are used to describe the relative status of the degree of either health, disease, or both, of the gingival tissues. Most of the indices incorporate a graduated scale with definite upper and lower limits. All gingival indices rely on one or more of the following criteria: color, contour, bleeding, extent of involvement, crevicular fluid flow. Some indices have shown a correlation between the various criteria used and histologic signs of inflammation, particularly in the case of bleeding and visual signs of inflammation. In this paper, a number of indices to assess gingival health have been reviewed; their sensitivity varies and the type of index used will be dependent on the objective of the study to be conducted.
mesh_terms: D004487:Edema / Q000473:pathology; D005881:Gingiva / Q000473:pathology; D005883:Gingival Crevicular Fluid; D005884:Gingival Hemorrhage / Q000473:pathology; D005891:Gingivitis / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D010512:Periodontal Index