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Periodontal examination and screening

British Dental Journal volume 235, pages 707–713 (2023)Cite this article

Abstract

Periodontal screening is an important tool in dental practice, and the BPE system is recommended. Clinically, visual examination should identify inflammatory change, recession and enlargement. However, detailed periodontal charting is required in all patients with significant levels of disease. In addition, radiographic examination is important to verify loss of bone and to show root anatomy.

Key points

  • Describes the Basic Periodontal Examination and how to apply it.

  • Discusses periodontal charting and probing depths.

  • Emphasises the importance of recording recession.

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References

  1. British Society of Periodontology. Basic periodontal examination. 2019. Available at https://www.bsperio.org.uk/assets/downloads/BSP_BPE_Guidelines_2019.pdf (accessed July 2021).

  2. Chapple I L C, Mealey B L, Van Dyke T E et al. Periodontal health and gingival diseases and conditions on an intact and a reduced periodontium: consensus report of workgroup 1 of the 2017 World Workshop on the Classification of Periodontal and Peri-Implant Diseases and Conditions. J Clin Periodontol 2018; 45 Suppl 20: S68-S77.

  3. Clerehugh V, Kindelan S. Guidelines for periodontal screening and management of children and adolescents under 18 years of age. 2012. Available at https://www.bsperio.org.uk/assets/downloads/bsp_bspd-perio-guidelines-for-the-under-18s-2012.pdf (accessed July 2021).

  4. Larsen C, Barendregt D S, Slot D E, Van der Velden U, Van der Weijden F. Probing pressure, a highly undervalued unit of measure in periodontal probing: a systematic review on its effect on probing pocket depth. J Clin Periodontol 2009; 36: 315-322.

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Acknowledgements

The BDJ Editorial Team would like to thank the authors of this chapter for granting us permission to republish their chapter within our journal. This chapter was first originally published in R. Palmer and P. Floyd (eds), Periodontology, BDJ Clinician's Guides, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-76243-8_1 © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021. Further reading is included in the references list.1,2,3,4

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Dentistry, Oral and Craniofacial Sciences, King´s College London, London, UK

    Richard Palmer

  2. North Chailey, East Sussex, UK

    Peter Floyd

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  1. Richard Palmer
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  2. Peter Floyd
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Correspondence to Richard Palmer.

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Cite this article

Palmer, R., Floyd, P. Periodontal examination and screening. Br Dent J 235, 707–713 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-023-6410-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-023-6410-8

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