Absence of bleeding on probing An indicator of periodontal stability
Abstract
Abstract Following active periodontal therapy, 41 patients were incorporated in a maintenance program for 2 1/2 years with recall intervals varying between 2–6 months. At the beginning of each maintenance visit, the periodontal tissues were evaluated using “bleeding on probing” (BOP). Reinstrumentation was only performed at sites which bled on probing. However, supragingival plaque and calculus was always removed. Pocket probing depths and probing attachment levels were recorded after active treatment and at the conclusion of the study. Progression of periodontal disease was defined by an observed loss of probing attachment of ≥ 2 mm. The reliability of the BOP test as a predictor was evaluated by calculating sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and positive and negative predictive values. While only a 29% sensitivity was calculated for frequent bleeding, the specificity was 88%. The fact that the positive predictive value for disease progression was only 6% and the negative predictive value was 98% renders continuous absence of BOP a reliable predictor for the maintenance of periodontal health.
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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 [32]
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 [32]
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- Authors
- Lang, N. P., Adler, R., Joss, A., & Nyman, S.
- Affiliations
- University of Bern (CH)
- Corresponding author
- Lang, Niklaus P.
- ORCID
- Lang, Niklaus P.
- Venue
- Journal of Clinical Periodontology
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 1990-11
- Volume
- 17
- Issue
- 10
- Pages
- 714-721
- ISSN
- 0303-6979 (ISSN-L)
- 1600-051X
- OpenAlex
- W1994244743
- Cited by
- 671
- References
- 9
- Citations by year
- 2026: 24 · 2025: 19 · 2024: 42 · 2023: 28 · 2022: 32 · 2021: 40 · 2020: 38 · 2019: 26 · 2018: 38 · 2017: 29 · 2016: 23 · 2015: 18 · 2014: 23 · 2013: 21 · 2012: 29
- FWCI
- 9.96
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- 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 stability, periodontal maintenance, periodontal disease progression, probing attachment loss, probing depth, diagnostic test reliability, sensitivity and specificity
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Dental Calculus, Dental Plaque, Female, Gingival Hemorrhage, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Periodontal Diseases, Periodontal Pocket, Periodontium, Predictive Value of Tests, Sensitivity and Specificity, Reproducibility of Results
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