Relationship between gingival inflammation and painfulness of periodontal probing

The relationship of gingival inflammation to the pain associated with periodontal probing was assessed at baseline (B), and 1 month (1M) and 3 months (3M) later in 46 subjects. At each of the 3 sessions, clinical measures of gingival inflammation included an observational gingival index and bleeding score. In addition, periodontal probings of all existing teeth was performed with a constant force probe (25 g). Following completion of the probing at each session, subjects rated the global painfulness of the probing using a visual analog scale for pain. Results of this study showed that judged painfulness of probing was related to clinical inflammation (bleeding score) at baseline and 1 month and suggest that the degree of periodontal inflammation is related to the pain and discomfort associated with periodontal probing.