Relationship between the presence or absence of gingival bleeding and the enzymatic BANA test

When periodontal disease started to be considered a bacterial infection mainly mediated by subgingival plaque, the basic problem faced by periodontists was the indentification and/or quantification of periodontopathogenic bacteria. However, clinical methods continue to be of great value for the diagnosis of periodontal disease. In the present study we show a significant correlation between an index widely used in clinical practice, the Gingival Index of Lõe (1967), based on the presence or absence of bleeding on probing, and the methodology of the BANA test for the detection of the specific enzymatic activity of microorganisms involved in periodontal disease. More sensitive and specific clinical parameters, taken together with other microbiological methods, will be useful in daily clinical practice even before periodontal treatment.

Correlation between the CPITN score and anaerobic periondontal infections assessed by BANA assay / Correlação entre o índice CPITN e infecções anaeróbicas periondontais avaliada pelo teste BANAS

In the present investigation the ability of subgingival plaque to hydrolyse BANA (Perioscan) was correlated with CPITN scores. Among 281 sites investigated, 136 had a CPITN equal to 2 with a highly significant positive BANA value (107 sites). A CPITN equal to 3 was also siginificantly BANA positive (90 sites). These findings clearly demonstrate the relationship between CPITN and anaerobic microorganisms (BANA positive)