INFLUENCE OF CPITN PARTIAL RECORDINGS ON ESTIMATES OF PREVALENCE AND SEVERITY OF VARIOUS PERIODONTAL CONDITIONS IN ADULTS

This study compares the results of a full mouth examination with the r esults of examining only the CPITN selection of 10 index teeth 17/16, 11, 26/27, 47/46, 31 and 36/37 for estimates of prevalence and severit y of the conditions assessed with the CPITN, i.e. gingival bleeding, d ental calculus, pockets 4-5 mm deep and pockets 6+ mm deep. The mean n umber of sextants recorded with bleeding or with calculus was generall y overestimated when examinations were based on the CPITN selection of index teeth, whereas the mean number of sextants with pockets, whethe r moderate or deep, were generally underestimated. Similarly, the prev alence of pockets, whether moderate or deep, was underestimated in vir tually all age groups while the prevalence of calculus was overestimat ed in all age groups and the prevalence of bleeding was overestimated among persons below 30 yr of age. We conclude that the partial recordi ng approach of the CPITN methodology is reasonably well suited for ide ntifying persons who are relatively healthy according to the hierarchy of the CPITN parameters. There is, however, a considerable risk that persons presenting with the more severe conditions, i.e. pockets, will be overlooked if only partial recordings are performed.