ORAL EXAMINATION AND CHARTING MARY L. BERG, BS, LATG, RVT, VTS (DENTISTRY) Beyond the Crown Veterinary Education
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Because plaque is the soft, gelatinous matrix of bacteria and bacterial by- products that lead to gingival irritation and gingivitis, it may be necessary to use a disclosing agent to visualize. Calculus (tartar) is calcified plaque. The amount of calculus should be recorded as light, moderate, or heavy. Calculus can only be removed by either hand scaling or power scalers. measurement of gingival health. The assessments of gingival changes are scored using the following criteria with each tooth given the most severe score. 0 normal healthy gingiva 1 moderate inflammation moderate redness, not bleeding on probing, edema 2 GINGIVITIS INDEX (GI) The gingival index (GI) is a
5 FURCATION INDEX (FI) The furcation index (FI) measures the loss of bone support in multi-rooted teeth. A periodontal probe is placed perpendicular to the long axis of the tooth and slid along the free marginal groove to the furcation site. The following criteria are used to assign a numerical score. 1 no loss of bone support 2 horizontal loss of supporting tissues not exceeding one- third of the width of the tooth
is felt. The tip of the probe should be parallel to the long axis of the tooth. The pocket depth is recorded as the distance in mm from the free gingival margin to the bottom of the pocket. The probe may be glided or walked along the tooth to measure the varying pocket depths. A normal gingival sulcus depth is 1-3 mm in dogs and 0.5 to 1mm in cats. Measurements in excess of these values should be recorded in the appropriate location on the dental chart. 4 GINGIVAL RECESSION (GR) Gingival recession is also measured with the periodontal probe. It is the distance from the cementoenamel junction to the margin of the free gingiva. At sites with gingival recession, the probe depth may be normal despite the loss of alveolar bone.
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moderate inflammation moderate to severe redness, edema, bleeding upon probing
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severe inflammation severe redness, edema, ulceration, spontaneous bleeding
3 PROBE DEPTH (PD) Probe depth (PD) is a measure of the depth the periodontal pockets often found in periodontal disease. The probe depth is measured at multiple sites of the tooth. A periodontal probe with millimeter markings is gently placed between the free gingiva and the tooth surface and carefully advanced until soft tissue resistance
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horizontal loss of supporting tissues exceeding one-third of the width of the tooth but not encompassing the total width of the furcation area. horizontal through and through loss of supporting tissue.
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