Bleeding on Probing
Also written as: BOP — Bleeding on Probing
A clinical sign recorded during periodontal probing in which blood appears at the gingival margin within 30 seconds, used as an indicator of gingival inflammation.
Full Definition
Bleeding on probing (BOP) is expressed as a percentage of sites that bleed upon gentle insertion of a calibrated probe to the base of the sulcus or pocket. A full-mouth BOP score is used to monitor treatment response, with higher scores correlating with greater levels of gingival inflammation. Editors should note that BOP is not a direct indicator of active periodontitis but rather a sign of current gingival inflammation; a low BOP score (typically below 10%) is associated with periodontal stability. The abbreviation 'BOP' is standard in clinical documentation and research manuscripts.
Usage
Usage note: Distinguish from 'spontaneous gingival bleeding', which occurs without provocation and may suggest systemic factors; BOP is elicited only by probing.
In Context
- "Full-mouth bleeding on probing was reduced from 68% at baseline to 12% following active periodontal therapy." — Re-evaluation clinical note
- "BOP scores must be recorded and reported at baseline and at each follow-up interval per the study protocol." — Clinical trial methods section