PERIODONTAL PROBE PRECISION USING 4 DIFFERENT PERIODONTAL PROBES

The aim of this study was to compare the relative intra- and inter-exa miner reproducibility of 4 different periodontal probes. (1) The Hu-Fr iedy LL 20 Probe, a manual probe. (2) The Vivacare TPS Probe, a plasti c manual probe with a standardised pressure of 0.20 N. (3) The Vine Va lley Prober an electronic probe using a standardised pressure of 0.25 N. 4. The Peri Probe Comp, a computerised electronic probe with a cont rolled pressure of 0.45 N in 2 mm pockets to 0.25 N in 13 mm pockets. Duplicate probing measurements were taken by 2 examiners in 10 patient s on 3 index teeth, 1 molar, 1 premolar and 1 incisor at 6 sites per t ooth. Teeth were selected to incorporate both shallow (<5 mm) and deep er (greater than or equal to 5 mm) periodontal sites. The order of pro bes and examiners were changed in a systematic manner and measurements were repeated 1 week later to avoid bias due to examiner memory. Resu lts show that the manual probe had the lowest degree of variation. wit h a correlation coefficient of 0.83. The manual and Peri Probe Comp fr equently recorded deeper probing pocket depths compared to the TPS and Vine Valley probes, The results may have been influenced by the lack of familiarity with the automated probes.