Abstract

This study was designed to histologically determine the relationship of the periodontal probe tip to the periodontal tissues during probing of untreated periodontal pockets and periodontal pockets treated with oral hygiene and root planing. Human, condemned, single rooted teeth with buccal probing pocket depth at least 6 mm were used. Two groups of specimens were included; 12 untreated teeth from 6 patients and 15 treated teeth from 10 patients.

In the treated group, the effects of therapy were monitored clinically every two weeks until maximum improvement had taken place. A periodontal probe tip was then inserted on the buccal aspect of the tooth using 0.50 N pressure, and block section biopsies were taken. The histologic examination of the untreated teeth showed that the probe tip penetrated beyond the apical termination of the junctional epithelium and into the subjacent connective tissue by a mean of 0.45 ± 0.34 mm, whereas in the treated specimens the probe stopped coronal to this landmark by a mean of 0.73±0.80 mm.

This study demonstrated that the probe tip most often does not reach the base of the junctional epithelium in pockets treated by plaque control and root planing, and that clinical measurements of attachment levels are not reliable in determining the true histologic level of connective tissue attachment.

LLU Discipline

Periodontics

Department

Periodontics

School

Graduate School

First Advisor

Jan Egelberg

Second Advisor

Steven Garrett

Third Advisor

Max Crigger

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Degree Level

M.S.

Year Degree Awarded

1981

Date (Title Page)

12-1981

Language

English

Library of Congress/MESH Subject Headings

Periodontal Diseases; Dental Instruments

Type

Thesis

Page Count

iii; 27

Digital Format

PDF

Digital Publisher

Loma Linda University Libraries

Usage Rights

This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.

Collection

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Collection Website

http://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/

Repository

Loma Linda University. Del E. Webb Memorial Library. University Archives

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