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Validity of a hinged constant force probe and a similar, immobilised probe in untreated periodontal disease
Author(s) -
Simons Paul,
Watts Trevor
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
journal of clinical periodontology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.456
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1600-051X
pISSN - 0303-6979
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-051x.1987.tb01519.x
Subject(s) - connective tissue , periodontal disease , periodontal probe , significant difference , gingival and periodontal pocket , biomedical engineering , dentistry , chemistry , pathology , medicine
The validity of a hinged constant force probe (0.25 N) was compared with that of a similar but immobilised instrument, using the same interchangeable tip for both (0.64 mm diameter, 2 mm divisions). 60 sites were measured on teeth which were extracted subsequently, in patients with untreated periodontal disease, and the connective tissue attachment level was used as validity criterion, The clinical measurements of both probes correlated well with each other, but they differed significantly from the post‐extraction connective tissue attachment level measurements, indicating a. point 1.2 mm coronally, to this, on average. A companion investigation of intra‐operator probing depth reproduciability with the 2 probes, was undertaken in 14 patients, at 2 visits separated by 1 week in each case. All patients had untreated periodontal disease. A difference between probes was found at the first visit, but not at the second; the immobilised probe showed a difference between visits, reducing mean probing depth slightly at the second; when the immobilised probe was used first, there was a difference between probes. Further analysis of the results indicated that there was greatest agreement between probes when the constant force probe had been used before the immobilised probe at the second visit. The results suggested that these probes indicated a point above the connective tissue attachment level, related to pocket morphology, and that there was a moderate learning effect due to operator use of the constant force probe, which modified use of the immobilised probe.