Reducing variability and choosing ideal subjects for experimental gingivitis studies.

Introduction: This study was undertaken to test the hypothesis that male, non-smokers, aged 25-50 years, with a proven track record of developing gingivitis would provide suitable subjects for experimental gingivitis studies because the inter-subject variation would be greatly reduced.

Materials And Methods: Subjects were required to be men aged between 25 and 50 years, in good general health with at least four sound teeth in one posterior quadrant of the mandible. Subjects who were smokers, taking antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs or had any other medical, surgical or social condition making participation in the study inadvisable, were excluded.