SCREENING FOR PERIODONTAL-DISEASE - RADIOGRAPHS VS PSR

This study compares the evaluation of periodontal health using bone le vels measured on periapical and bitewing radiographs with clinical par ameters, such as periodontal screening and recording, gingival indexes , probing depths and attachment levels. The authors found that bitewin g radiographs taken within six months of the clinical examination corr elated better with the clinical data than older radiographs. However, they concluded that, overall, radiographs are not highly reflective of periodontal status. PSR scores, by contrast, showed significant assoc iations with probing depths and attachment levels. The results support use of PSR as a screening tool for periodontal diseases.