Why is the Sulcus Bleeding Index primarily measured?

The Sulcus Bleeding Index (SBI) is primarily measured to assess periodontal inflammation. This index focuses on detecting the presence of bleeding in the gingival sulcus, which is indicative of inflammatory processes occurring in the periodontal tissues. When gums are inflamed, they often bleed upon probing, and the SBI allows practitioners to quantify this bleeding.

Measuring the degree of bleeding in response to gentle probing helps clinicians gauge the health of the periodontal tissues, monitor the progression of periodontal disease, and evaluate the effectiveness of treatment over time. A higher SBI score is associated with greater inflammation, which correlates with the severity of periodontal issues.

In contrast, evaluating pocket depth, determining tooth stability, and measuring tissue thickness relate to different aspects of periodontal health assessment. While these factors are important for a comprehensive evaluation of periodontal status, they do not directly measure inflammation in the same manner as the Sulcus Bleeding Index.