Bleeding on probing. A parameter for monitoring periodontal conditions in clinical practice
The present report is a follow-up study of a prospective clinical trial. The purpose was to further validate BOP as a clinical parameter for determining disease progression or periodontal stability in a private-practice situation. Following the active periodontal therapy, 39 patients were incorporated in a program of supportive periodontal therapy for a period of 53 months with recall intervals varying between 2 and 8 months. The patients received supportive therapy 7 to 14 times. At the beginning of each maintenance visit,the tissues were evaluated using BOP. At baseline and at the end (4.5 years) of the observation period, probing depths and probing attachment levels were recorded. During the observation period, 4.2% of all the sites lost the attachment. Two-thirds of all the sites that lost the attachment were found in a group of patients which presented a mean BOP >30%. In a group of patients with a mean BOP <20%, only one-fifth of the loser sites were found. This clearly indicated that patients with a mean BOP of <20% have a significantly lower risk for further loss of attachment at single sites. [E.L.H.]
Joss, A., R. Adler, and N.P. Lang J Clin Periodont, 21:402, 1994