Gingival Index
A clinical scoring system that assesses gingival inflammation by evaluating color, contour, and bleeding response at the gingival margin.
Full Definition
The Gingival Index, most commonly associated with the Löe and Silness system (1963), assigns a score of 0–3 to the gingival unit at each assessed surface, where 0 indicates healthy gingiva and 3 indicates severe inflammation with spontaneous bleeding. Unlike the plaque index, which measures bacterial deposits, the gingival index specifically measures the inflammatory status of the gingival tissue. It is a key endpoint in periodontal clinical trials and patient-monitoring charts. Editors must not interchange 'gingival index' with 'plaque index', as they measure fundamentally different clinical parameters.
Usage
Usage note: When 'GI' is used as an abbreviation, ensure it is defined on first use and not confused with gastrointestinal (GI) in multidisciplinary publications.
In Context
- "Mean gingival index scores decreased significantly from 2.1 at baseline to 0.6 following non-surgical therapy." — Clinical trial results section
- "The methods section must state whether gingival index or plaque index was recorded, as the two assess different tissue parameters." — Editorial comment on methods