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Development and verification of the proximal/marginal plaque index
B J Benson1, G Henyon, E Grossman
1Johnson & Johnson Consumer Products, Skillman, New Jersey.
The Journal of Clinical Dentistry
|January 1, 1993
Summary
A new Proximal/Marginal Index (PMI) for plaque detection showed comparable intra-examiner agreement to the Global Plaque Index, indicating its validity for clinical studies.
Area of Science:
- Dental hygiene research
- Clinical trial methodology
- Oral health assessment
Background:
- Accurate dental plaque assessment is crucial for evaluating oral hygiene products.
- Existing indices like the Global Plaque Index have limitations in specificity.
- A novel Proximal/Marginal Index (PMI) was developed to address these limitations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the performance of experienced and newly trained investigators using the Global Plaque Index versus the new Proximal/Marginal Index (PMI).
- To evaluate the inter- and intra-examiner reliability of both plaque indices across various plaque levels.
Main Methods:
- Four independent clinical studies were conducted, with two studies utilizing the Global Plaque Index and two using the PMI.
- Each study involved 11 subjects, with plaque levels assessed before and after brushing.
- Inter- and intra-examiner reliability were calculated for both indices.
Main Results:
- The Proximal/Marginal Index (PMI) demonstrated inter-examiner reliability estimates comparable to the Global Plaque Index.
- Intra-examiner agreement was similar for both the PMI and the Global Plaque Index.
- Both indices proved sufficiently reliable for detecting product differences in clinical trials.
Conclusions:
- The Proximal/Marginal Index (PMI) is a valid and reliable tool for dental plaque assessment in clinical studies.
- The PMI offers a focused approach to plaque detection on specific tooth surfaces.
- Both experienced and newly trained investigators can effectively utilize the PMI for plaque scoring.