Sulcus Bleeding Index (SBI)
An early sign of gingivitis is bleeding on probing and, in 1971, Muhlemann and Son
described the Sulcus Bleeding Index (SBI). The criteria for scoring are as follows:
Score 0 – health looking papillary and marginal gingiva no bleeding on probing;
Score 1 – healthy looking gingiva, bleeding on probing;
Score 2 – bleeding on probing, change in color, no edema;
Score 3 – bleeding on probing, change in color, slight edema;
Score 4 –bleeding on probing, change in color, obvious edema;
Score 5 –spontaneous bleeding, change in color, marked edema.
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Gingival Indices: State of Art 43
Four gingival units are scored systematically for each tooth: the labial and lingual marginal
gingival (M units) and the mesial and distal papillary gingival (P units). Scores for these
units are added and divided by four. Adding the scores of the undivided teeth and dividing
them by the number of teeth can determine the sulcus bleeding index.