Gingival index

Method

Loe and Silness gingival index, an ordinal 0 to 3 rating of gingival colour, oedema and bleeding tendency scored per site and averaged full-mouth. The number of sites scored per tooth is recorded on the edge.

The method is part of the endpoint identity. Studies measuring the same quantity by a different method are held as separate endpoints.

Notes

Scores HOST INFLAMMATION. Its near-miss is the plaque index of Silness and Loe, which shares the same 0 to 3 ordinal range, the same full-mouth averaging, the same examiner, the same table and the same benefit direction - but scores BACTERIAL DEPOSIT. They dissociate by mechanism: an anti-inflammatory agent moves this without touching plaque, and a mechanical or antimicrobial agent can clear plaque with the gingival response lagging weeks behind. Distinct also from bleeding on probing, a percentage of sites rather than a mean ordinal score.