Accuracy of probing attachment levels using a CEJ probe versus traditional probes.

BACKGROUND: Current interest in the assessment of probing attachment level measurements has been stimulated by recent introduction of novel periodontal probes as well as by the reclassification of periodontal diseases. Clinical attachment level (CAL) is currently the "gold standard" for diagnosing and monitoring periodontal diseases. AIM: To evaluate the performance of the newly introduced cementoenamel junction (CEJ) Probe in detecting CAL using the CEJ as a fixed reference point, and to compare the CEJ Probe with the Florida Disk Probe and a standard Manual Probe (North Carolina Probe). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three examiners probed 12 periodontal patients to determine intra- and inter-consistency of both the probes and the examiners, over a 4-week time interval. Subjects ranged in age from 22 to 74 years. The experimental design was structured to balance the intra- and inter-examiner consistency at the same site during the two visits. RESULTS: Using the PROC MIXED of SAS, a strong interaction (p<0.001) between the examiner and probes was found. The consistency of probing (repeatability of measurements) depended upon the type of periodontal probe used as well as the skill (experience) of the examiner. Overall, the CEJ Probe displayed a more consistent performance. The CEJ Probe demonstrated greater intra-examiner consistency than the Disk Probe for two examiners (p<0.01). The CEJ Probe also showed increased inter-examiner consistency (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The CEJ Probe has the potential to offer the dental team an efficient, accurate mechanism to chart and monitor attachment level measurements over time. Additional studies, using large numbers of examiners, are needed to assess more clearly the performance of each individual probe.

Recent approaches to periodontal therapy.

Periodontal diseases encompass a variety of disease classifications, all involving inflammation of the supporting tissues of the teeth. When progressive, these diseases ultimately lead to the destruction of attachment apparatus including bone and periodontal ligament, culminating in eventual tooth loss. Inflammation extends from superficial gingival structures, effecting adjacent submerged bone and periodontal ligament. Progression modifies an initially highly favourable, reversible diagnosis of gingivitis to a less favourable, somewhat irreversible situation: periodontitis. Periodontal diseases manifest variable and sometimes unpredictable prognoses, are generally somewhat complicated and costly to treat and often require long-term follow-up for maintenance and monitoring. Treatment aims at restoration of health and control of future disease within a functional, albeit reduced, periodontium. In the strictest sense, periodontal diseases are not 'cured'. The conventional, usually successful, approach to the treatment of patients with gingivitis or chronic periodontitis has involved non-surgical mechanical periodontal therapy [1,2]. Some patients manifest localised or generalised continuous attachment loss and periodontal destruction. These sites are prime candidates for alternative therapeutic regimens. This review highlights some of the recent advances in periodontal therapy and evokes some questions that should be addressed during future studies.

An algometer for intraoral pain tolerance measurements.

An algometer was developed to provide a variable probing force (0-200 g force) which could be used intraorally. This algometer consisted of an autoclavable probe handpiece attached to an optical encoder, which recorded probing force to a computer when a button was pressed. The probe handpiece included a 0.40 mm diameter hemispherical tip which was placed in contact with the experimental site. The probe tip was pressed against the tissue with increasing force until the subject pressed the button, at which point the pain tolerance (PT) value was recorded by the computer. Intraoral soft tissue, PT values were obtained from nine healthy adult subjects during 6 weekly visits to determine the reproducibility of PT measurements. Five gingival sulcus sites and three gingival surface sites, all adjacent to the maxillary premolars constituted the experimental area. The reproducibility of PT values using the force stimulus from the algometer was evaluated using interclass correlation coefficients (R) for each of the eight sites. Visits 1 and 2 were training and calibration visits. Visits 3 through 6 were experimental visits. The R values ranged from 0.40 to 0.79 when data from all six visits were included. R values for Visits 3 through 6 were 0.63-0.97 indicating good to excellent correlation after subjects became familiar with the procedure. A complete repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed no significant interaction between site and visit. Duncan's multiple range test was used to compare sensitivity across the eight sites. The results indicated that the three most anterior sites were significantly (P < 0.05) more sensitive than four of the posterior sites. When the sites were grouped into: (1) gingival surface sites; (2) mid-facial sulcus sites; and (3) interproximal sulcus sites, no significant differences were found in their PT values. The algometer is well suited for intraoral investigations because of its precision, computerized data entry and easily positioned, autoclavable handpiece. This new algometer may be useful for sensory and pain studies for other parts of the body.

Pain threshold values during periodontal probing: assessment of maxillary incisor and molar sites.

Probing pain threshold (PPT) assessments were conducted in the facial and oral sulci of maxillary central incisors and first molars of 10 periodontally healthy adults. All subjects were systemically healthy, free of pain, and reported no current medication usage. A computer-linked electronic probe, modified to deliver steadily increasing forces up to 200 grams, was used to collect the data. The system contained a subject operated "off-switch" which, upon activation, signaled the computer to record the subject's PPT. Assessments of each subject's PPTs were conducted on 3 separate occasions at 7-day intervals. Results indicated that the facial sulci of the incisors were the most pain sensitive. They displayed a mean PPT of 50.9 +/- 26.6 grams. The oral sulci of the incisors exhibited a mean PPT of 76.5 +/- 45.2 grams. Facial and oral sulci of the molars evidenced mean PPT values of 102.6 +/- 52.1 grams and 113.5 +/- 51.3 grams, respectively. These data suggest that sulci associated with incisor teeth are nearly twice as pain sensitive as sulci associated with molar teeth. In addition, facial sulci are significantly more pain sensitive than oral sulci. Data did not indicate a visit effect nor a side-of-mouth effect on PPT values.

Factors affecting cyclosporine-induced gingival overgrowth in pediatric renal transplant recipients.

The purpose of this research was to study the occurrence of gingival overgrowth (GO) in children after kidney transplantation and to investigate the relationship of GO to medical and dental parameters. Forty-nine kidney transplant patients taking the immunosuppressive drug cyclosporine A (CsA) were evaluated for plaque (PI), calculus (CI), gingival inflammation (GI), probing depth (PD), width of keratinized gingiva (GW), and gingival overgrowth (GO). Blood trough levels and oral dosages of CsA were obtained from medical charts on the day of examination. Most (77.5%) subjects exhibited GO, suggesting that GO is a frequent problem in children and adolescents ingesting CsA. GI, PD, and GW were found to be statistically significantly greater in subjects with GO than in those without GO. CsA dose/day was not significantly different between subjects with GO and those without GO. CsA dose/kg body weight and blood trough levels of CsA were significantly higher in subjects without GO, but the average length of time subjects without GO had been ingesting CsA was only 1.3 months, compared with an average 3.5 years for subjects with GO. The results indicate that in young subjects, duration of CsA ingestion may be the most critical factor related to eventual GO development.