Gingival exfoliative cytological response in different periodontal treatment techniques

Abstract

This investigation was performed with the aim of identifiing the patterns of cell exfoliation during the course of periodontal treatment, and comparing the gingival cytologic response with different therapeutical methods. A number of 90 patients of both sexes with ages ranging from 20 to 50 years studied. Three groups with 30 patients each were formed taking into account that they presented with clinical disease elective for certain therapeutical modalities established in the study (flaps, gingivectomy, dental scaling, and root planing). Cytologic samples were taken in the vestibular zone of the marginal and papillar gingiva by gingival curettage, then they were fixed by cytospray and stained by the calssic method of Shorr-Pundel. The cell evaluation was performed taking into account only two cytological types: superficial cells without nucleous (ST2) and superficial cells with nucleous (ST1). In each microscopic preparation 300 cells were randomly counted. The keratinization index was used to evaluate the degree of gingival keratinization. A periodical cytologic follow-up was performed in 4 stages: before treatment, after the initial preparation was completed, and after 15-45 days of treatment. It was evidenced that the gingiva recovers a normal cytological pattern within 45 days.