[Examination of CPITN indicator usefulness in specialist periodontal care]

Usefulness of CPITN indicator in specialistic parodontological care in 70 patients aged between 15-59 years has been estimated. One specialist was denoting the CPITN indicator on a special card and sending these patients to 1 out of 4 parodontologists in order to determine therapeutic management in a traditional way without knowing the value of CPITN. Comparing therapeutic needs based on CPITN value and on specialistic clinical examination it has been found that in 55.7% there existed a difference in parodontological needs and in 24.3% cases CPITN indicator determined therapeutic needs more precisely. It has resulted from utilization of diagnostic tool--WHO 621 tube. In 37.1% of the cases there existed inconsistency in determining therapeutic needs by both methods. It has resulted from the differences of both programs' assumptions. Although the CPITN system is intended for determination of parodontological needs of a certain community it can also be applied in specialistic parodontological care.