IN-VITRO ACCURACY AND REPRODUCIBILITY OF AUTOMATED AND CONVENTIONAL PERIODONTAL PROBES

The aim of this study was to investigate the accuracy and reproducibil ity of experienced and inexperienced examiners using 3 automated perio dontal probes (Florida Pocket Probe, Florida Disk Probe, Peri Probe) i n comparison with 3 conventional periodontal probes (Marquis, Williams and EN-15 probes). Test blocks of aluminium had 30 holes of diameter 1.10 mm and depths ranging from 2.75 to 10.0 mm, machined with a toler ance of +/-0.01 mm. 8 experienced examiners and 8 inexperienced examin ers were selected to perform duplicate measurements on the blocks over 6 visits using each of the, 6 probes. 1 automated and 1 conventional probe were used at each examination. The % accuracy and reproducibilit y for each of the duplicate measurements was calculated and analysed u sing Friedman 2-way analysis of variance and the Wilcoxon matched pair s test. On average, all probes showed high reproducibility, with the F lorida Disk Probe, the Florida Pocket Probe and the Williams probe ran ked best and the other 3 probes were less reproducible. On average, al l probes shelved a high degree of accuracy, automated probes were rank ed best and were significantly better than conventional probes. Experi ence had little effect on reproducibility, with only the Peri Probe sh owing significant differences at the 5% level between the groups. Expe rience appeared to be more important for accuracy, as experienced exam iners were more accurate than inexperienced examiners, with significan t differences at the 5% level for the EN-15, Florida Disk Probe and Pe ri Probe. However, inexperienced examiners were significantly more acc urate using the Williams probe. This in vitro study has shown that aut omated probes offer increased accuracy over conventional probes and th e Florida Packet and disk probes compare well with conventional probes for reproducibility.