Abstract

Changes in human gingival blood flow were measured using a Laser doppler flowmeter. The change of blood flow was correlated to the degree of force applied and there were variations in measurement of decreased blood flow among the subjects. The variation was attributed to the degree of tooth displacement and the size of the interdental space. This study examined the effect of tooth displacement on the gingival blood flow, as well as age and sex differences.

Blood flow in gingival tissue was measured using a laser doppler flowmeter, and displacement of the maxillary incisors was measured using an eddy current sensor. The correlation coefficient of the decreased blood flow to the tooth displacement was 0.809, and it was higher than that to the degree of applied force (r = −0.625). The regression coefficient of decreased blood flow to the displacement of teeth was significantly correlated to the interdental space. The regression coefficient of decreased blood flow to the percentage of tooth displacement was independent of the interdental space. However, the regression coefficient of decreased blood flow to the percentage of tooth displacement was significantly higher in young subjects than in adults.