Dental Charting Flashcards
What can you expect to see on a dental chart?
Only abnormalities are recorded, so if no pathology is indicated on a chart,
one can assume that no abnormalities were detected on the tooth or oral tissue.
How is Occlusion evaluated on the the dental chart?
Note any deviations from normal/classic skull shape on the chart. It is important to establish
this prior to intubation, as slight deviations can be missed with the mouth open and an
endotracheal tube in place
How is Teeth in Abnormal Position or Orientation discussed on a dental chart?
Crowding should be indicated well as rotated to displaced teeth.
How are
Oral masses and Ulceration discussed on a dental chart?
Any soft tissue lesions are recorded in the position where they occur in the oral cavity. It is
good practice to record the size of such lesions (in millimeters). All measurements are
measured in millimetres so to save space on a chart, general recording on charts omit the
“mm” suffix (so e.g. rather “5” than “5mm”)
How is Periodontal Probing Depth recorded on the dental chart?
This is usually only recorded if abnormal and therefore once a periodontal pocket is formed.
This measurement is recorded in millimetres at the location documented. The probing depth
is measured from the gingival margin to the deepest aspect of the pocket.
It is important to realise that in patients with concurrent gingival recession, the pocket depth
should be added to the depth of gingival recession to establish the total attachment loss
How is gingival recession recorded on the dental chart?
This is measured from the expected normal gingival height (at the cemento-enamel junction)
to the most apical aspect of the recession. This is again measured in millimetres.
How is Gingival Enlargement/overgrow recorded on the dental chart?
In some individuals at some sites, gingival enlargement might occur. This could be an
inflammatory response to chronic gingivitis but also possibly neoplastic or hyperplastic
change. Without a histopathogical diagnosis, it is impossible to be sure what caused the
enlargement. Gingival hyperplasia is a histopathological diagnosis and gingival enlargement
should not be described as such unless this diagnosis is confirmed.
Whatever the cause of the gingival enlargement, this creates pseudo pockets that creates the
same anaerobic conditions that exist in true periodontal pockets and can therefore have
similar implication for the development or progression of periodontitis
How is Furcation Exposure
(Horizontal bone loss, as a consequence of periodontitis, would eventually expose the
furcation of multi-rooted teeth.) recorded on a dental chart?
Grade 1 furcation exposure indicates that the furcation can just be identified at or below
the gingival margin, using a periodontal probe.
Grade 2 furcation exposure indicates a deeper horizontal pocket, but the probe cannot be
passed through the furcation to the lingual or palatal side.
Grade 3 furcation exposure indicates that a periodontal probe can be passed through the
furcation from one side to emerge on the opposite side
How is the Gingivitis Index recorded on a dental chart?
(Clinically this is one of the more important parameters to record.)
G0: The gingiva is clinically normal.
G1: This indicates slight gingivitis with slight swelling and redness but no bleeding on
probing.
G2: This degree of gingivitis indicates that the inflammation created more fragile tissue. In
these patients, the gingiva will also be red and swollen but the tissue will be more fragile
and will bleed on probing.
G3: Gingival with moderate to severe inflammation. It bleeds very easily /spontaneously or
has ulcerated.
How is Calculus Index recorded on the dental chart?
*Many clinicians choose to omit this recording as the calculus will be removed during scaling.
Localised, asymmetric calculus deposits might indicate reduced mastication on this side with
heavier calculus and might therefore have some diagnostic benefit to identify pain in the
mouth.
C0: No visible calculus present on the crown surface
C1: Calculus of present at the gingival one third of the crown surface.
C2: Calculus covers coronal two thirds of the crown.
C3: The majority of the crown surface is covered with calculus
How is tooth mobility recorded on a dental chart?
M0: No mobility detected.
M1: Slight mobility. Some clinicians will allocate a score if the tooth is mobile in a single
plane, and others when it moves in any direction for 1 mm.
M2: Moderate mobility: The tooth moves in 2 planes (or >2mm).
M3: Severe mobility: The tooth moves in 3 different planes (or >3 ml in any direction).
How should visibly absent teeth be recorded on a dental chart?
These should always be recorded as in general it requires further investigation.
How should Fractured Crowns and Resorptive lesions be recorded on a dental chart?
These lesions as well as wear facets or other enamel defects, are marked wherever it occurs
on the tooth.
What is the Periodontal Disease Index?
This attempts to allocate a degree of severity of periodontal disease based on the findings of
the clinical examination. This index combines the findings of all the above indices.
It is important to realise that this is merely an attempt to classify the severity of periodontal
disease. A very localised but deep periodontal pocket, at a large root (e.g. the carnassial teeth)
expressed as a percentage attachment loss, might be significantly less that 25% but very
significant and probably a good indication for extraction.
Therefore, still be considered as severe periodontitis.
