Site-specific CPITN score and periodontal disease activity assessed by the paper BANA assay

The purpose of this study was to examine the association between site-specific periodontal conditions assessed by CPITN and BANA test results. A total of 161 Japanese company employees aged 18-59 were examined for their periodontal conditions at mesio-buccal and mid-lingual sites of the maxillary right and mandibular left first molars using CPITN. Code 2 (calculus) was divided into Code 2+ and Code 2- by the presence or absence of bleeding. Plaque samples were collected from the examined sites with a scaler and placed on BANA reagent cards. The results indicated a close relationship between site-specific CPITN Codes and the BANA test results except at sites designated Code 2-. The proportion of sites with strong-positive reactions were 19.0% for Code 0, 21.4% for Code 2-, 29.9% for Code 1, 37.0% for Code 2+ and 50.0% for Code 3. These data indicated that the teeth given higher CPITN Codes tend to have higher risks for periodontal disease. From these results, it was concluded that the site-specific CPITN score is a good indicator of periodontal disease activity and that a higher priority for treatment should be given to the sites with pocket formation (Code 3 and Code 4) and/or gingival bleeding (Code 1 and Code 2+).