Proceedings of the workshop on quantitative evaluation of periodontal diseases by physical measurement techniques

Most of the participants agreed that the destruction of connective tissue is the single most significant criterion for assessing the severity of periodontal disease. Members were equally divided between favoring a measure of bone height or density and a measure of soft tissue destruction, such as attachment level or pocket depth. A measure of the rate of destruction of bone at the time of examination was considered to be especially useful. Opinion was equally divided as to the second most important parameter related to periodontal disease, either measures of gingival inflammation or measures of dental plaque. Measurements of gingival fluid and measures of tooth mobility were less favored by the group as a whole, but each measurement area was favored by strong proponents.