EXAMINER AGREEMENT ON PERIODONTAL INDEXES DURING DENTAL SURVEYS OF ELDERS

Indices used to evaluate periodontal health have been widely accepted in epidemiological studies, yet their reliability cannot be guaranteed . The aim of this study was to evaluate the reliability of periodontal indices applied on elders. 19 elderly subjects, 73-years-old on avera ge, were examined at a 1st appointment by 2 independent examiners. The y were re-examined 2 weeks later during a 2nd session. The examination s were performed in a dental chair with good illumination. Periodontal health was evaluated using the community periodontal index of treatme nt need, and tooth mobility was evaluated using 2 different indices. I nter- and intra-examiner agreements were evaluated using kappa statist ics. Taken as an overall measurement, the CPITN was a reliable assessm ent of periodontal treatment need in elders. Disagreement occurred mai nly on the evaluation of bleeding and shallow pockets. The detection o f fairly mobile teeth was reliable; however, the performance of the mo re sensitive scale was deceptive. It seems that, in the case of tooth mobility, a choice has to be made between sensitivity or reproducibili ty. It can be concluded that examiners should be trained carefully sin ce the reliability of the CPITN and tooth mobility evaluation were goo d but close to a critical level for which an agreement is classified a s poor.