The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the tine shape of 3 different periodontal probes. One tapered, one parallel-sided and one WHO-probe tine, each with a diameter of 0.5 mm at the tip, were mounted in hinged handles exerting a constant probing force (Brodontic). The handles were adjusted to either 0.25 N (127 N/cm2) or 0.5 N (255 N/cm2). 12 patients with moderate to severe periodontitis were measured after supra- and subgingival debridement, using all 6 possible tine/force combinations in 3 sessions. In each session one tine/force combination was used in the 1st and 3rd quadrants, and another tine/force combination in the 2nd and 4th quadrant. The measurements in the same quadrants could therefore be used for comparisons within the same site. The selection for the 2 quadrants in which a given tine/force combination was to be used, was randomised. Calculations of differences (mean per patient) between probing measurements show that the WHO tine yields deeper recording than the parallel/sided and tapered tines, both at 127 N/cm2 and 255 N/cm2. We conclude that in addition to probing force, the tine shape of a periodontal probe is of significant importance for the recorded probing depth.

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate cross-sectionally the prevalence and several risk indicators of root caries in 45 periodontal maintenance patients, who had been actively treated for adult periodontitis 11-22 years ago. These patients were part of a routine 3-6 monthly maintenance schedule. Active and inactive root caries and root fillings were recorded, as well as coronal caries experience. Plaque and bleeding scores, number of exposed root surfaces, rate of saliva secretion, saliva buffering capacity, mutans streptococci counts and Lactobacilli were also scored. From the total of 45 study subjects, 37 patients (82%) showed root lesions (root caries and/or root fillings), while only 8 patients were free of any root lesions. On average, there were 4.3 root lesions per patient (range 0-19) in the present study. 10 patients had active root caries lesions. Of all damaged root surfaces, 9% were active lesions, mostly located on mandibular teeth at lingual and vestibular sites: 40% were inactive lesions often detected at vestibular sites. The remaining damaged root surfaces (51%) were restored; they were equally divided over both jaws. A higher number of root lesions was observed in those patients with >106 mutans streptococci/ml saliva. Although the actual number of lesions per patient was low in relation to the large number of sites with gingival recession, the results from this cross-sectional study in periodontal maintenance patients indicate that: (1) root caries can be regarded as a complication in periodontal maintenance patients; (2) the individual number of root lesions correlate with individual dental plaque scores; (3) a high number of root lesions is associated with high counts of salivary mutans streptococci; (4) no relation between root caries and coronal caries experience, salivary secretion rate or salivary buffering capacity seems present. Therefore, repeated oral hygiene instructions and adjunctive preventive measures including diet counseling and fluoride rinses, as well as fluoride and chlorhexidine varnishes, should be advocated in high-risk patients.

No abstract