Oral leukocytes and gingivitis in the primary dentition

A survey was performed to evaluate the relationships among orogranulocytic migratory rale, gingival index and plaque index in a group of systematically healthy preschool children. The fifty children selected for study had only primary teeth, no pharyngeal or extragingival inflammation and were taking no medication. Each child was subjectively scored for the amount of bacterial plaque and gingival inflammation present. The rate of migration of leukocytes into the oral cavity per 30 second period was determined from the last three of ten 30 second consecutive oral saliva rinses as an objective measure of gingival inflammation. A minimal amount of localized mild marginal gingivitis was observed in the presence of a rather large plaque accumulation. No significant correlation was observed between rates of oral leukocyte migration and the degree of gingival inflammation. However, the leukocyte migratory rates in this group were quite low as compared to those found in adults by other investigators.