Gingival Vascular Response to Anticipated and Actual Punctate Stimulation

Abstract

The effect of punctate stimulation was evaluated as part of an experimental study of the vascular response of the human gingiva to various stimuli. Bilateral vascular responses were determined by changes in the amplitude of the blood volume pulse (BVP) of the gingival papillae between the maxillary lateral incisor and canines. Punctate stimulation produced an immediate large increase in the average amplitude of BVP of the stimulated side. This was followed by a hyperbolic decrease in the amplitude of BVP which returned to prestimulus level in approximately 5.0 minutes (BVP=9,750 T ^-1.1,437 +80, where BVP is a percentage of the maximal basal BVP amplitude and T is time in seconds). Apparent vasoconstriction of the gingiva was noted bilaterally in anticipation of unilateral punctate stimulation.

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