INTRA-EXAMINER AND INTER-EXAMINER REPRODUCIBILITY IN CONSTANT FORCE PROBING

This study evaluated intra- and inter-examiner reproducibility for a c onventional manual probe versus a computer-interfaced force-controlled periodontal probe. 2 examiners recorded probing depths (PD) and relat ive attachment levels (AL) at 1128 sites in 15 periodontal maintenance patients. Each site was evaluated 2x, 7 to 10 days apart by both exam iners. Probing force for the electronic probe was 15 g. PD intra-exami ner reproducibility (within +/- 1.0 mm) for shallow sites (PD less tha n or equal to 3 mm) was 98.6% versus 91.5% for the conventional versus the electronic probe for examiner 1 and 98.5% versus 85.7% for examin er 2. Corresponding values for deeper sites (PD>3 mm) were 96.4% versu s 85.9% for examiner 1 and 95.1% versus 77.0% for examiner 2. Generall y, AL intra-examiner reproducibility was 1 to 3% lower than for PD. PD inter-examiner reproducibility (within +/- 1.0 mm) was 99.2% versus 9 0.7% for the conventional versus the electronic probe, respectively fo r shallow sites and 95.4% versus 76.9% for deeper sites. AL inter-exam iner reproducibility (within +/- 1.0 mm) was 1 to 5% lower than for PD . Both intra- and inter-examiner reproducibility was higher for anteri or than for posterior sites. Mean PD and AL were similar for both exam iners. However, the electronic probe consistently recorded 0.1 to 0.2 mm higher values than the conventional probe. Standard deviations indi cated a greater variability for electronic than for manual probing. Th e results suggest that intra- and inter-examiner reproducibility may n ot necessarily be higher with an electronic, force-controlled periodon tal probe than with a conventional manual probe.