Ultrasonographic Evaluation of Vascular Response to Mechanical Compression during Induced Gingival Inflammation

The aim of this study was to evaluate the gingival vascular response to mechanical compression during inflammation using ultrasonography. Four female and 4 male Sinclair mini pigs 18 mo of age were included in the study. Pathogenic bacteria-impregnated silk ligatures were placed around the third premolars (PM3), fourth premolars (PM4), and first molars (M1). Ligatures were placed per quadrant at 2-wk intervals in random order. Ultrasonographic study was performed at 2-wk intervals following baseline until the 10th week. Brightness mode (B-mode) images and color flow cine loops were captured at 2 different conditions: 1 with only coupling gel between the ultrasound transducer and the mucosal surface and 1 with the transducer compressing the mucosal surface. The compression was visually adjusted until minimal to no blood flow was detected in color-flow mode. Compression was facilitated using a solid gel pad attached to the transducer. Strain values were obtained from B-mode images of the gel pad and plotted versus study weeks. The <i>t</i> test comparisons were obtained to the baseline (week 0). Data from female and male pigs were plotted and analyzed separately for comparison. Gel pad strain increased with peak around week 4 and gradually decreased in both sexes. In male pigs, the increase in strain was statistically significant in weeks 2, 4, and 6 of all teeth regions and week 8 of PM4 and M1 regions. In female pigs, the increase in strain was significant in only week 4 of PM4. Higher strain required for stoppage of blood flow implies increased gingival blood flow with inflammation, which corresponds with previous studies. Considerably smaller changes in gel pad strain were noted from female pigs, indicating a smaller increase in gingival blood flow compared with males. This study demonstrated a possible application of intraoral ultrasonography for assessment of gingival inflammation.