Abstract
The amount of gingival fluid increases with inflammation, sometimes in parallel to its severity. This may lead to the finding that the pH in gingival crevices and periodontal pockets varies depending on the extent and severity of the periodontal disease. In the present investigation, the hydrogen ion-sensitive field-effect transistor (HIS-FET), which is based on the structure of a gate-insulated field-effect transistor, was used to measure the gingival pH in 4 normal adults and 3 patients. The pH was measured at depth of 1 mm from the gingival margin on the surface of each tooth. The measurement was repeated 5 times.
The average values of pH ±S. D. in the buccal, lingual and interproximal crevices were 6.22±0.44, 6.79±0.39 and 6.13±0.54 respectively, and those in the periodontal pockets were 6.14±0.72, 6.44±0.48 and 6.07±0.65 respectively. Thus, periodontal pockets showed lower pH levels than normal crevices, and statistical evaluation showed a significant difference (p<0.05) on the lingual tooth surface. The average values of pH in lingual crevices were higher than those in the buccal and interproximal, and this was also the case for lingual periodontal pockets.
