title: The effect of a single mechanical treatment on the subgingival microflora in patients with HIV-associated gingivitis.
abstract: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of a single episode of scaling and root planing on clinical periodontal parameters and on the subgingival microflora in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive and HIV-negative subjects. 13 subjects participated and were clinically scored at days -7, 7, 30 and 90. 7 subjects were infected with HIV and presented an HIV-associated gingivitis. 6 subjects were HIV-negative with at least 12 teeth affected by conventional gingivitis. No significant differences were seen between both groups regarding the presence of P. gingivalis, P. intermedia and A. actinomycetemcomitans. The mean plaque index (PlI) was 1.79 in the HIV-negative and 1.29 in the HIV-positive group. The mean gingival index (GI) was higher in the HIV-positive group (HIV-positive: 1.55; HIV-negative: 1.47). Whereas, the PlI decreased significantly in the HIV-negative group during the course of the study, no change was observed in the HIV-positive group. GI as well as bleeding upon sampling decreased significantly in both patient groups during the same period. The bacterial counts decreased from day -7 to day 7 and generally remained on a lower level until day 90. Small differences were seen in the microbiological flora of the HIV-positive and the HIV-negative subjects following mechanical treatment.
authors.affiliation: University of Bern, School of Dental Medicine, Switzerland.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hofer
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Hämmerle
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grassi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mombelli
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy; D000328:Adult; D016976:Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D012534:Dental Scaling; D005260:Female; D005884:Gingival Hemorrhage / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D005891:Gingivitis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000628:therapy; D018023:HIV Seronegativity; D006679:HIV Seropositivity; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010512:Periodontal Index; D016966:Porphyromonas gingivalis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D018713:Prevotella intermedia / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016745:Root Planing