The present investigation describes a method for collection and analysis of volatile sulphur compounds (VSC) from gingival crevicular sites in humans. Tenax-GC trapping devices were used to adsorb and concentrate VSC from crevicular air at -55 degrees C, which were then thermally desorbed at 120 degrees C. Gas chromatographic (GC) analyses were performed using a Tracor 550 GC equipped with a flame-photometric detector and a Teflon column packed with 5% polyphenyl ether and 0.05% phosphoric acid on 30-40 mesh Teflon. Sulfides identified from crevicular sites include hydrogen sulfide [H2S], methyl mercaptan [CH3SH], dimethyl sulfide [(CH3)2S], and dimethyl disulfide [(CH3S)2]. Of the seventeen patients studied, crevicular sites that were either deep (P.D. > or = 4 mm) or inflamed (BoP = 1) exhibited significantly larger CH3SH to H2S ratios than corresponding crevicular shallow (P.D. < or = 3 mm) sites (p < .10) or noninflamed (BoP = 0) sites (p < .05). Similarly, total sulphur in deep and inflamed sites was significantly higher than in corresponding shallow (p < .01) and noninflamed (p < .05) sites. This is the first known in vivo study to quantitate VSC directly from individual gingival crevices.
Adult Aged