Current status of indices of plaque

Microbial plaque has been described by the Council on Dental Therapeutics of the American Dental Association in their recently drafted Guidelines for acceptance of products for the management of dental plaque and gingivitis. The choice of an index system to be used in plaque trials should be made in terms of the objective of the trial, the size of the population, the period of the study, and the type and extent of change anticipated. The indices currently in use estimate the quantity of plaque in terms of tooth area covered or the thickness of material in the area measured. The Silness and Loe and the modified Turesky methods have been suggested as acceptable indices for the estimation of cleansing ability.