Periodontal probe

The periodontal probe can also be used to measure other dental instruments, tooth preparations during restorative procedures, gingival recession, attached gingiva, and oral lesions or pathologies.

It is due to the periodontal probe damaging the increased blood vessels in the capillary plexus of the lamina propria, which are close to the surface because of the ulceration of the junctional epithelium (JE).

However, in patients who smoke, the gingival tissue rarely bleeds because of unknown factors that do not seem related to dental biofilm and calculus formation.

With the information obtained from probing, visual assessment and radiography, the specialist can already determine the stage and classify the patient's periodontal disease.

The diagnosis may also record data on pocket depth, recession, missing teeth, furcation defects, tooth mobility and the presence of dental deposits.

Periodontal pocket depth measured by a periodontal probe
Michigan O probe with Williams markings (left) and Naber's probe with shades alternating every 3 mm (right).
PCP12 probe with shades alternating every 3 mm. The probe is on a modified Novatech shank, intended to make it easier to align the probe with the vertical axis of the teeth.