Sir, I want to share with the readers the discrepancy that I have noted in the recommendation in the basic periodontal examination and its implications.

According to the British Society of Periodontology,1 if a score of three noted when recording basic periodontal examination (BPE), full pocket charting should be done for the sextants with score three, irrespective of the number of sextants with the score three; however, according to the Scottish Dental Clinical Effectiveness Programme (SDCEP)2 the recommendation is that for patients with a BPE score of three in more than one sextant, a six point periodontal charting should be done throughout the entire dentition.

This has led to confusion in students while doing a periodontal examination here at the University of Dundee. I hope this discrepancy is addressed sooner rather than later.