2/5: Periodontal Probing

Question 1

What is the purpose of a periodontal probe?

Answer 1

To evaluate the health of the periodontium (bone and gingiva surrounding tooth)

Question 2

What is a probing depth?

Answer 2

Measurement of the depth of a SULCUS or PERIODONTAL POCKET by measuring distance from a gingival margin to the base of the pocket using a calibrated periodontal probe

Question 3

What is sulcus?

Answer 3

The natural space between the surface of the tooth and the surrounding gingiva

Question 4

What is a periodontal pocket?

Answer 4

When probing depths >3mm and clinical manifestations of
inflammation and bleeding are present

Question 5

In healthy patients, should the periodontal probe enter?

Answer 5

Barely permits the insertion of the probe

Question 6

What is the probing depth measurement in a sulcus?

Answer 6

1-3mm

Question 7

What does periodontal pocket occur as a result of?

Answer 7

bacterial plaque and apical migration of the junctional epithelium (clinical attachment loss)

Question 8

What is the probe used at UMKC?

Answer 8

Marquis- measured at 3,6,9,12 blocks

Question 9

How many sites does probing measure?

Answer 9

6 sites per tooth
1. distofacial
2. facial
3. mesiofacial
4. distolingual
5. lingual
6. mesiolingual
Note: only one reading per site is recorded; if
probing depths vary within a sire, the deepest
reading obtained in that site is recorded

Question 10

What is probing?

Answer 10

act of walking the tip of a probe along the junctional epithelium(JE) within the sulcus or pocket for the purpose of assessing the health status of the periodontal tissues

Question 11

What is walking stroke?

Answer 11

The movements of calibrated probe around the perimeter of the base of a sulcus/pocket

Question 12

What is probing essential for?

Answer 12

evaluate the entire “length”
of the pocket base because the JE is not necessarily at a uniform level around the
tooth.

Question 13

What grasp should be used when holding a probe?

Answer 13

Modified pen grasp

Question 14

Where should the fulcrum be when probing?

Answer 14

Close to the tooth you are probing

Question 15

What part of the probe should contact the tooth?

Answer 15

Working-end of the probe

Question 16

Where should the probe be paralell?

Answer 16

to the long axis of the tooth around all proximal surfaces, except when probing the interproximal spaces

Question 17

Where should the probe be placead?

Answer 17

below the gingival margin to the base of the sulcus
(10-15 grams of pressure)- you’ll know you’re at the base when the gingival tissues blanch (turn whitish)