Bleeding on probing. A predictor for the progression of periodontal disease?

Lang, Niklaus P.; Joss, Andreas; Orsanic, Thomas; Gusberti, Francesco A.; Siegrist, Beatrice E.

doi:10.1111/j.1600-051x.1986.tb00852.x

Cited by 671Oral microbiology and periodontitis researchPeriodontal Regeneration and TreatmentsDental Health and Care Utilization

Bleeding on probing. A predictor for the progression of periodontal disease?

Lang, Niklaus P., Joss, Andreas, Orsanic, Thomas, Gusberti, Francesco A., Siegrist, Beatrice E.·1986·Journal of Clinical Periodontology

DOI 10.1111/j.1600-051x.1986.tb00852.x

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Abstract

Abstract Bleeding on probing (BOP) is a widely used criterion to diagnose gingival inflammation. The purpose of the present retrospective study was to evaluate its prognostic value in identifying sites at risk for periodontal breakdown during the maintenance phase of periodontal therapy. 55 patients who had been treated for advanced periodontitis participated in a recall system for at least 4 years, at regular intervals of 3–5 months. At the start of every appointment, BOP to the bottom of the pocket was registered at 4 sites of every tooth. A random selection of 1054 pockets was made and subdivided into 5 categories according to the incidence of BOP during the last 4 recall appointments. All pockets with a BOP incidence of 4/4 and 3/4 were selected, while only interproximal sites with a BOP incidence of 2/4, 1/4 and 0/4 were chosen. Subsequently, these categories were grouped according to whether or not the attachment level had been maintained from the time prior to the last 4 recall visits. 2 mm was defined as loss of clinical attachment. The results indicated that pockets with a probing depth of 5 mm had a significantly higher incidence of BOP. Patients with 16% or more BOP sites had a higher chance of loosing attachment. Pockets with an incidence of BOP of 4/4 had a 30% chance of loosing attachment. This chance decreased to 14% with BOP of 3/4, 6% with BOP of 2/4, 3% with BOP of 1/4 and 1.5% with BOP of 0/4. Sensitivity and predictability calculations revealed that BOP is a limited but yet useful prognostic indicator in clinical diagnosis for patients in periodontal maintenance phase.

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The absence of BOP suggests periodontal stability.
“While presence of BOP does not necessarily mean a priori that these tissues are inflamed, the absence of BOP does suggest periodontal stability. 29 , 30 , 32”
From Prognostic utility of oral neutrophil counts in high-risk periodontitis: A retrospective study (2025) · cites this paper as [29]
The presence of BOP does not necessarily mean that the tissues are inflamed.
“While presence of BOP does not necessarily mean a priori that these tissues are inflamed, the absence of BOP does suggest periodontal stability. 29 , 30 , 32”
From Prognostic utility of oral neutrophil counts in high-risk periodontitis: A retrospective study (2025) · cites this paper as [29]

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Self-citation
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Background
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“29 Our data seem to suggest that certain bacteria (i.e., Pg and Pi ), when present, can produce increases in BOP as well as elevations in oPMN levels.”

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Authors: Lang, N. P., Joss, A., Orsanic, T., Gusberti, F. A., & Siegrist, B. E.
Affiliations: University of Bern (CH)
Corresponding author: Lang, Niklaus P.
ORCID: Lang, Niklaus P.
Venue: Journal of Clinical Periodontology
Publisher: Wiley
Published: 1986-07
Volume: 13
Issue: 6
Pages: 590-596
ISSN: 0303-6979 (ISSN-L)
1600-051X
DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-051x.1986.tb00852.x
OpenAlex: W2019848149
Cited by: 671
References: 29
Citations by year: 2026: 22 · 2025: 33 · 2024: 41 · 2023: 26 · 2022: 27 · 2021: 31 · 2020: 37 · 2019: 27 · 2018: 32 · 2017: 28 · 2016: 20 · 2015: 27 · 2014: 17 · 2013: 13 · 2012: 27
FWCI: 9.47
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Licence: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor, 7106 d)
Locations: Journal Of Clinical Periodontology (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
The HKU Scholars Hub (University of Hong Kong) (submittedVersion)
Topics: Health Sciences › Dentistry › Periodontics › Oral microbiology and periodontitis research
Health Sciences › Medicine › Urology › Periodontal Regeneration and Treatments
Health Sciences › Dentistry › Periodontics › Dental Health and Care Utilization
Keywords: bleeding on probing, periodontal disease progression, clinical attachment loss, periodontitis, gingivitis, periodontal maintenance, probing depth, attachment level, prognostic factors
MeSH terms: Adult, Aged, Female, Forecasting, Gingival Hemorrhage, Oral Hemorrhage, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Periodontal Pocket, Periodontitis, Prognosis, Recurrence, Retrospective Studies

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Bleeding on probing. A predictor for the progression of periodontal disease?

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