Dental Charting

Question 1

Outline the plaque index?

Answer 1

0: No Plaque, a rare situation and only present immediately after cleaning
1: A light accumulation at the gingival margin
2: Moderate Plaque accumulation
3: Abundant Plaque on the tooth surface and in the sulcus

Question 2

Outline the Calculus Index?

Answer 2

0: No visible calculus present
1: Light calculus at the apical1/3 of the crown
2: Supra-and subgingival calculus covering up to 2/3 of the crown
3: Most of the crown covered with calculus

Question 3

Outline the mobility index?

Answer 3

0: No mobility
1: Slight mobility in a single plane (or less than 1 mm displacement possible)
2: Moderate mobility into planes (or more than 2 mm in any one direction)
3: Severe mobility. Movement in both horizontal and axial planes (or alternatively, more
than 3 mm or movement in any one direction)

Question 4

Outline the Furcation Exposure index?

Answer 4

0: No noticeable furcation involvement
1: Detection of noticeable furcation with subgingival probing
2: Subgingival probing confirms bone destruction in the furcation area but not severe
enough to allow advancement of the probe the oposite side.
3: Complete furcation exposure with a periodontal probe passing through the furcation
without interference.

Question 5

Outline the gingivitis index (Loe 1967)?

Answer 5

0: Clinically normal gingiva.
1: Slight gingivitis indicated by swelling and reddening of the tissue, rounding off of the
gingival margin.
2: Moderate gingivitis. All of the above signs of gingivitis with additional bleeding on
probing of the gingival sulcus.
3: Severe gingivitis. Spontaneous bleeding with or without ulceration.

Question 6

Outline the modified ginigivitis index? (Lobene 1986)

Answer 6

This index does not require periodontal probing and is potentially useful to describe
findings after conscious examination.
0: Clinically normal gingiva
1: Slight Inflammation. Reddening does not involve all of the gingiva.
2: Mild inflammation: all of the gingiva appears red and swollen.
3: Moderate inflammation. The above signs with more advanced signs of oedema, with or
without enlargement of the gingival margin
4: Severe inflammation: all of the above but spontaneous bleeding during examination or
the presence of visible gingival ulceration.

Question 7

How is gingival recession recorded?

Answer 7

Gingival recession indicates more severe stages of periodontal disease with confirmed
attachment loss, and therefore confirmation of periodontitis. It is recorded as the distance
between the affected gingival margin and the cemento-enamel junction.

Question 8

How is gingival enlargement recorded?

Answer 8

Gingival hyperplasia depends on a histopathological diagnosis and is not a good term to
use to describe enlargement of the gingiva not specifically confirmed in this way. Any gingival enlargement would create pseudo-pockets.

Question 9

What is a Suprabony Pocket?

Answer 9

This is a consequence of recession of the alveolar margin and usually associated with
horizontal bone loss.

Question 10

What are Infrabony Pockets?

Answer 10

Localised vertical bone loss creates true periodontal pockets. Pockets could be described as a cup, one wall pocket, two walled, or three walled.

Question 11

Outline the periodontal disease index:

Answer 11

Normal: (PD0). Clinically normal gingiva with no signs of periodontal disease
* Stage 1 (PD 1) Gingivitis only with no signs of attachment loss.
* Stage 2 (PD 2). Early Periodontitis with estimated less than 25% attachment
loss. This could be associated with grade 1 furcation exposure. A deep localised
periodontal pocket might not reach attachment loss of 25% and could be
clinically very important even though the total attachment loss might not reach
the theoretical 25% mark.
A similar consideration os appropriate when considering the effect of gingival
recessions: e.g. gingival recession of 4 mm at a single rooted tooth is not as
significant as the same recession at a multi rooted tooth where this recession
exposes the furcation.
* Stage 3. (PD3). Moderate Periodontitis with attachment loss of 25 to 50%. This
estimation is based on periodontal probing and radiography, and it is important
to recognise the implications of gingival recession and gingival enlargement to
establish true attachment loss (PAL)
* Stage IV (PD 4). Advanced Periodontitis with an estimated more than 50% of
attachment loss. This would be accompanied by grade 3 furcation involvement
at multirooted teeth