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.
A periodontal probe is an instrument in dentistry commonly used in the dental armamentarium. It is usually long, thin, and blunted at the end. Its main function is to evaluate the depth of the pockets surrounding a tooth in order to determine the periodontium's overall health. For accuracy and readability, the instrument's head has markings written on it.
