Proper use of the periodontal probe
- Accuracy is maintained by placing the probe with light pressure of 10-20 grams into the gingival sulcus.
- The probe should be kept parallel to the contours of the tooth root.
- Insert the probe down to the base of the pocket.
- The first visible marking above the pocket indicates the pocket depth measurement.
- Pocket depths greater than 3mm can indicate attachment loss or gingival hyperplasia.

Other uses of the periodontal probe
- It can measure dental instruments, tooth preparations, gingival recession, attached gingiva, and oral lesions.
- Bleeding on probing (BoP) can occur and is a clinical sign of active periodontal disease.
- Smoking can reduce gingival bleeding.
- Different types of periodontal probes have different markings for measurements.
- The Nabers probe is used for measuring the furcation area between tooth roots.

Types of periodontal probes
- The Michigan O probe has markings at 3mm, 6mm, and 8mm.
- The Williams probe has circumferential lines at 1mm, 2mm, 3mm, 5mm, 7mm, 8mm, 9mm, and 10mm.
- The PCP12 probe with Marquis markings has alternating shades every 3mm.
- The Nabers probe is curved and used for measuring furcation areas.
- Each type of probe has its own way of indicating measurements on the tip.

References
- Wilkins, 1999.
- Illustrated Dental Embryology, Histology, and Anatomy, Bath-Balogh and Fehrenbach, Elsevier, 2011.
- Ramachandra, S. S.; Mehta, D. S.; Sandesh, N.; Baliga, V.; Amarnath, J. (2011). Periodontal probing systems: A review of available equipment.
- Compendium of Continuing Education in Dentistry, 32(2), 71–77.
- Summit, James B., J. William Robbins, and Richard S. Schwartz. Fundamentals of Operative Dentistry: A Contemporary Approach. 2nd edition. Carol Stream, Illinois, Quintessence Publishing Co, Inc, 2001.

Additional references
- Wilkins, Esther M. Clinical Practice of the Dental Hygienist. 8th edition. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 1999.
- Hefti AF. Periodontal probing. Crit Rev Oral Biol Med. 1997;8(3):336-56.
- Ramachandra SS, Mehta DS, Sandesh N, Baliga V, Amarnath J. Periodontal probing systems: a review of available equipment. Compend Contin Educ Dent. 2011 Mar;32(2):71-7.
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- Preston D. Miller, Willoughby D. Miller, Carl E. Misch, John Mankey Riggs, Jay Seibert, Jørgen Slots, Paul Roscoe Stillman, Dennis P. Tarnow, Hom-Lay Wang, James Leon Williams, W. J. Younger.