Faculty Collaboration Database

[Comparative probing with an electronic and a manual periodontal probe]. Schweiz Monatsschr Zahnmed 1993;103(6):715-21

Date

01/01/1993

Pubmed ID

8322056

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-0027342547 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   5 Citations

Abstract

The goal of this study was to compare a new electronic probe (Peri-Probe) which uses a defined probing force and allows measurement of probing depth in 0.1 mm increments, with a standard manual probe. 24 sites were probed in each of 12 subjects (6 treated for periodontal disease and 6 untreated). Duplicate measurements with the electronic probe were made with the probe tip remaining in contact with gingival tissue. Similarly executed measurements using the manual probe followed during the same appointment. One week later, measurements were repeated in reversed sequence. Duplicate measurements (within appointments) resulted in measurement errors of +/- 0.18 mm for the manual probe. 98.6% of the electronic measurements and 99.3% of the manual measurements differed by < 1 mm. Replicated duplicated measurements (between appointments) resulted in measurements errors of +/- 0.86 mm for the electronic probe and +/- 0.65 mm for the manual probe. A difference of < 1 mm was found in 89.2% and 95.5% of the measurement repetitions with the electronic probe and the manual probe, respectively. The electronic probe exhibited greater variation of measurements than the manual probe. In addition, probing using the electronic instrument was more arduous than using the manual instrument, resulting in less reliable measurements.

Author List

Becherer CF, Rateitschak KH, Hefti AF

Author

Arthur Hefti DDS,PhD Associate Dean - Research & Graduate Studies in the Dentistry department at Marquette University

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adult
Computers
Diagnostic Errors
Equipment Design
Evaluation Studies as Topic
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Periodontal Pocket
Periodontics
Reproducibility of Results