Indices

Question 1

Who came up with the gingival index?

Answer 1

Silliness and Loe 1963

Question 2

Describe the gingival index

Answer 2

0 - health
1 - mild inflammation( slight redness, slight oedema, no BOP)
2 - moderate inflammation (redness, oedema, BOP)
3 severe inflammation (marked redness and oedema, spontaneous BOP)

Question 3

Who came up with plaque chart?

Answer 3

O’Leary et al 1972

Question 4

What are you aiming for in a plaque chart?

Answer 4

Plaque <10%

Question 5

Describe the BPE

Answer 5

0 - No bleeding
1 - Bleeding on probing but pockets <3.5mm
2- Calculus present or defective restoration
3 - pocket 3.5mm-5.5mm
4 - Pocket >5.5mm
* - furcation

Question 6

What force do you use during probing?

Answer 6

20-25 grams

Question 7

Where will the probe tip stop in healthy tissue compared to inflamed tissue?

Answer 7

In healthy tissue there is less distinction between histological and clinical pocket depths
In inflamed tissues there is an increased penetration of probe

Question 8

What were the findings of the following study?: “Biddle et al 2001 Comparison of the validity of periodontal probing measurements in smokers and non-smokers”

Answer 8

• In deeper pockets (>4mm), the difference between the clinical probing depth and post-extraction pocket depth was significantly lower for smokers
• In non-smokers there is a greater potential for probing depth reduction and clinical attachment gain following treatment

Question 9

State the possible errors that can occur during probing

Answer 9

• Thickness of probe used
• Angulation and positioning of probe
• Pressure applied
• Degree of tissue inflammation
• Operator related

Question 10

State the different generations of probe

Answer 10

• 1st generation: Conventional probes
- E.g. Williams probe

• 2nd generation: Constant force probes

• 3rd generation: Automated
- E.g. Florida probe

• 4th generation: 3D probe

• 5th generation: Non invasive 3D
- E.G. The Ultrasonographic Probe

Question 11

What are the disadvantages of 2nd generation and 3rd generation probes?

Answer 11

2nd generation disadvantage is patient discomfort
3rd generation disadvantages include underestimating deep probing depths, lack of tactile sensitivity and need for extra training

Question 12

What have studies found regarding improving reliability with different generation probes?

Answer 12

Various studies have found the use of a constant force probe did not increase reproducibility of probing depth measurements compared to ordinary probes

Also it has been found that manual probes and electronic probes showed a tendency to have similar reliability in the measurement of CAL in untreated periodontitis patients

Stents were found to make no difference when using a constant force probe in most areas

Question 13

Describe the importance of BOP, what does its absence show?

Answer 13

Continuous absence of BOP reliable indicator of periodontal health. It has a high negative predictive values
False positives can be caused by too much pressure from the probe. Low positive predictive value.

Question 14

Who invented the furcation index?

Answer 14

Hamp and Nyman, 1989

Question 15

Describe the furcation index

Answer 15

• 1: Less than or equal to 3mm
• 2: Greater than 3mm but not through
• 3: Through and through involvement

Question 16

How common are furcations?

Answer 16

Common! 25-40% of molars in periodontitis patients

Question 17

Are furcation involvements over or underestimated? Describe the findings of a paper that looked at this

Answer 17

• Zappa et al, 1993 – Comparisons of surgical findings versus clinical assessment

• Class I : 18-21% overestimation
• Class II: 21% overestimation, 58 under estimation
• Class III: 27% underestimation, 73% correct

Question 18

Describe the mobility classification

Answer 18

• 0: 0.1-0.2mm in horizontal direction
• 1: At most 1mm in horizontal direction
• 2: >1mm in horizontal direction
• 3: Severe mobility horizontal and vertical