In SBI, SBI score 5 corresponds to what combination of findings?

• A. BOP; spontaneous bleeding; change in color; obvious swelling; no ulceration
• B. BOP; spontaneous bleeding; obvious swelling
• C. Spontaneous bleeding; change in color
• D. BOP; change in color; no swelling

Answer: (A)

SBI scores combine several visible signs of gingival inflammation, not just bleeding after probing. A high SBI score means multiple inflammatory features are present at once. For a score of five, you’d expect bleeding on probing (BOP), spontaneous bleeding, a noticeable color change in the gingiva, and obvious swelling, with no ulceration. This combination shows active, generalized inflammation with edema and color change beyond what probing alone would reveal, and the absence of ulceration keeps it from the most advanced ulcerative cases. The other options omit at least one of these signs (spontaneous bleeding, color change, swelling) or introduce ulceration, so they don’t fit the score five pattern.