Induced Gingivitis & Intra-oral Imaging

Using an experimental, non-invasive intra-oral imaging device, this study evaluates the effects on the gingival tissue when oral hygiene is stopped in a section of the mouth for two weeks and gingivitis develops. The effects on the gingival tissue continues to be evaluated as oral hygiene is resumed and the gingival tissue returns to health.

The study will include the following phases - 1) Hygiene phase of 2 weeks; 2) Gingivitis induction phase with stent lasting up to 2 weeks; and 3) Resolution phase of 2 weeks. The intervention will consist of cessation of oral hygiene versus an active control of oral hygiene with a fluoridated toothpaste. This study is a modification of classical experimental gingivitis model. The study will prospectively enroll subjects and assign a maxillary sextant to the intervention, while the other sextant will serve as control in a split-mouth design of localized experimental gingivitis, utilizing localized stent-induced biofilm overgrowth model (SIBO). The intervention, i.e. oral hygiene cessation will manipulate the participants' oral environment by leading to reversible inflammation of the gingival tissues. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of oral hygiene cessation in the gingival tissues by an innovative non-invasive microimaging technique, i.e. Optical coherence tomography (OCT).