1. Oral Health Training & Calibration Programme
Gingival Index

2. 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

3. 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

4. Gingival index: Index teeth
No substitutes except deciduous teeth for permanent
( )
Permanent teeth take precedence

5. 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

6. 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.

7. 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

8. 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

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

10. 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