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Intra-/inter-examiner reproducibility study of gingival bleeding
G A Van der Weijden1, M F Timmerman, C A Saxton
1Department of Periodontology, ACTA Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Journal of Periodontal Research
|July 1, 1994
Summary
Gingival bleeding assessment using a periodontal probe showed poor reproducibility between examiners, even with controlled force. Probe angulation, not parallel placement, resulted in less bleeding, impacting diagnostic accuracy.
Area of Science:
- Periodontology
- Dental Diagnostics
- Inflammatory Lesion Assessment
Background:
- Gingival bleeding after probing indicates inflammation.
- Reproducibility of bleeding indices is crucial for accurate diagnosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate probe placement and standardized force effects on gingival bleeding reproducibility.
- To assess intra- and inter-examiner agreement using a defined bleeding index.
Main Methods:
- Compared parallel (ParBI) and angulated (AngBI) probing techniques.
- Utilized conventional and controlled force (0.25 N) probes (CF-ParBI, CF-AngBI).
- Assessed bleeding reproducibility on site and quadrant bases.
Main Results:
- Intra- and inter-examiner agreement was poor ('fair' at best) on a site basis.
- Approximately one-third of sites received different assessments upon re-examination.
- Angulated probing consistently produced less bleeding than parallel probing.
Conclusions:
- Current probing methods lack sufficient reproducibility for reliable gingival bleeding assessment.
- Probe angulation significantly influences bleeding outcomes, potentially affecting diagnostic sensitivity.
- Standardizing force and angulation is critical for improving diagnostic accuracy in periodontology.