Oral Health Training & Calibration Programme Gingival Index

Calibration Challenge Probing by the first examiner increases likelihood of bleeding found by next examiner Therefore the training will focus on the technique rather than actual score

Principles Sensing force - 20 grams test this by placing the probe tip under the thumb nail and press until blanching occurs More on this as we work through the indicies

Gingival index: Index teeth 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 No substitutes except deciduous teeth for permanent (55 52 64 75 72 84) Permanent teeth take precedence

Gingival index Gingival Examination Evaluate tissue changes in terms of: Color coral pink vs. deep red Consistency firm, resilient vs. edematous/fibrotic Contour knife-edge margins vs. rolled margins Scalloped papilla vs. bulbous/thickened papilla

Gingival index (do not probe the pocket/sulcus depth) No substitutes allowed The index assesses the severity and prevalence of gingivitis by examining only the qualitative changes Use the probe as a sensor (do not probe the pocket/sulcus depth) Assess the mesial, distal, facial and lingual Consider sensing all teeth in an arch then recording the score allows time for bleeding to occur When assessing the mesial and distal sense the gingival in the entire interproximal.

Gingival Index – On All Ages Dry lightly with cotton rolls Use Williams probe 20g pressure (blanch nail bed) Do not probe around implants Angle of probe tip to follow anatomical configuration of tooth – follow the long axis of the tooth

Gingival Index (Loe & Silness 1963) 0. Absence of inflammation 1. Mild inflammation; slight change in colour and little change in texture. No bleeding on probing 2. Moderate inflammation; moderate glazing, redness, oedema and hypertrophy; bleeding on sensing 3. Severe inflammation; marked redness and oedema; tendency to spontaneous bleeding; ulceration 4. Permanent and primary tooth missing Actual scale is 0 to 5

Stages of Inflammation 0. Absence of inflammation 1. Mild inflammation; slight change in colour and little change in texture

Stages of Inflammation 2. Moderate inflammation; moderate glazing, redness, oedema and hypertrophy; bleeding on pressure 3. Severe inflammation; marked redness and hypertrophy; tendency to spontaneous bleeding; ulceration