Significance of Periodontal Probe in Probing and Charting

Have you ever heard your dentist calling out numbers during your checkup? 

If yes, then it's good, but if not, give us few seconds to explain you. This is periodontal probing and charting, or it may be called periodontal measurements. This measurement is an accurate tool to assess the condition of your gums. They can easily measure the success of your dental treatment on subsequent visits. 

For this purpose, periodontal probes are considered best. A periodontal probe is a calibrated instrument; it is a tapered rod-like blade with a blunt and rounded tip. It detects and measures loss or gain of attachment levels of the periodontium. Also, it determines the extent of ongoing periodontal disease and its activity and hence assesses the effects of treatment. A typical periodontal probe features a design with millimeter markings. The probe's working end is usually marked at millimeter intervals; moreover, Colored bands are there for each mm marking.

Uses of Periodontal Probes

Periodontal Probe Designs

Probes may have curved or straight working ends. These are narrow and smooth, with rounded blunt tips. Probes with straight working ends have slender rod-like blades that may be tapered or straight. Dental Probes with curved working ends are non-calibrated furcation probes.

To measure the sulcus depth, it is recommended to use probes with a tip diameter of 0.6 millimeters and to apply a force of 20 grams. This will only measure the sulcus depth and not penetrate the junctional epithelium. A healthy sulcus depth is usually three millimeters or less. Furthermore, it is generally self-cleansable with tooth brushing and with supplemental use of other oral hygiene aids. The center of the periodontal pocket increases in periodontal disease.

Classifications of Probes

Periodontal probes are categorized into five types, Generation one, two, three, four, and five.

First-generation periodontal probes are conventional handheld probes. There is no pressure or force measuring device attached. Also, their working ends may be rounded, tapered, flat, or rectangular with blunt tips. They have millimeter calibrations.

Second-generation probes were the first pressure-sensitive Dental probes. They are electronic probes with an attached pressure-sensitive device. They usually have a pen-like handpiece and a control base.

Third-generation probes are computerized, consisting of a probe, handpiece, sleeve, a displacement transducer, a footswitch, and a computer personal computer interface. The probe has a diameter of 0.45 mm. Also, Constant probing pressure of 15 grams is exerted by the coil springs inside the handpiece.

The fourth-generation probes are three-dimensional. The only fifth-generation periodontal probe is the ultra-Sonographic probe. It has an integral position sensor. Also, a transducer at the tip base sends and receives echoes, and hollow tips focus acoustic beams into periodontal tissues.

It also has a contra-angled handpiece, computer electron box for water control, foot pedal, and a transducer that emits and receives sound waves. Furthermore, the guide path is predetermined in these probes. Therefore, they are for a more comfortable examination and precise mapping.

Some things need to be considered while probing; the probe tip's side should always contact the tooth surface. The probe is kept as parallel to the tooth as possible. Also, Probing depth is usually measured at six sites per tooth. One reading is generally recorded for each site. And all the measurements should be in millimeters.