periodontal probe

periodontal probe

Etymology: Gk, peri, around, odous, tooth; L, probare, to test

1 a slender, tapered, flat or cylindric instrument with indentations spaced in millimeters, designed for introduction into the gingival sulcus for the purpose of measuring its depth.

2 also called furcation probe. a slender tapered instrument with or without millimeter indentations for measuring furcations of the roots of premolars and molars.

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periodontal (per´ēōdon´tl),

adj relating to the periodontium.

periodontal abscess,

n a localized area of acute or chronic inflammation found in the gingival tissues, infrabony pockets, or periodontal ligament. If it is located at the apex of the tooth, it is known as a
periapical abscess. If located between the apex and the alveolar crest, it is known as a
lateral abscess.

periodontal atrophy,

n See atrophy, periodontal.

periodontal attachment loss,

n a reduction in the connective tissue attaching the root of the tooth to the alveolar bone, usually caused by persistent inflammation of the gingival and periodontal tissues.

periodontal disease,

n a group of inflammatory and infectious diseases affecting the periodontium of the teeth, with various classes noted.

periodontal disease, aggressive,

n marked by the early onset of periodontal disease that affects the gingiva and periodontal tissues. If untreated, it may result in loss of teeth.

periodontal dressing,

n a protective obtundent covering of the gingival and periodontal tissues used after periodontal surgery.

Aggressive periodontal disease.

periodontal index,

n a method for rating or ranking the severity of periodontal disease. An early index was the PMA, which ranked the number of
papillary,
marginal, and
attached gingiva affected by gingivitis. A more contemporary index is the Russell Periodontal Index (PI), which is based on a 0-to-8 score system: from negative to advanced destruction.

periodontal ligament,

n a system of collagenous connective tissue fibers that attaches the root of a tooth to its alveolus of bone by way of Sharpey's fibers. It contains blood vessels, lymph vessels, and nerves. The ligament consists of five groups of fibers: interdental, alveolar crestal, horizontal, oblique, and apical and possibly interradicular fibers if the tooth is multirooted.

periodontal pack,

n See pack, periodontal.

periodontal pocket,

n See pocket, periodontal.

periodontal probe,

n See probe, periodontal.

periodontal prosthesis,

n See prosthesis, periodontal.

Periodontal Screening and Recording (PSR),

n.pr a proprietary method of briefly examining all of a patient's teeth, and recording the highest score in each of six regions of the oral cavity (mid-, mesio-, and distofacial and corresponding lingual areas). The process utilizes a blunt-tipped probe instrument and is intended to take only 2 to 3 minutes.

periodontal therapy,

n See therapy, periodontal.

periodontal treatment planning,

n the sequential arrangement of therapeutic procedures required to obtain a healthy periodontium.

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probe,

n 1. a slender, flexible instrument designed for introduction into a wound or cavity for purposes of exploration; in dentistry, it is mainly used for measuring and evaluating the sulcus or pocket region.
v 2. to use such an instrument.

probe, automated,

n an automatically controlled instrument used to assess the severity of periodontal disease. It may provide more consistent readings than manual probes. Also called
controlled force probes.

probe, automatic,

n a device used to explore a cavity or a wound with minimal manual operation.

probe, depth,

n the amount of space from the position of the tip of the periodontal probe to the gingival margin.

probe, furcation,

n a hand-activated, blunt-tipped probing tool that is used to measure bone loss in teeth with multiple roots. See also probe, Nabers furcation.

probe, Hu-Friedy

n.pr a thin, rounded and tapered handheld tool that is used to measure periodontal pocket depth. The millimeter marks are color coded for easier assessment.

probe, lacrimal

n an instrument useful in probing the lumen of duct structures, such as the nasolacrimal or salivary gland ducts.

probe, Marquis

n.pr the probe is color coded by alternately colored or black and silver bands that mark 3, 6, 9, and 12 MM.

probe, Michigan O,

n.pr a slender, round, conical-shaped device with a thin diameter used to assess the progression and extent of disease within the tissues of the oral cavity. The probe is marked at 3, 6, and 8 MM.

probe, Nabers furcation,

n.pr an adapted device used to examine the layout and extent of an advanced furcation. See also furcation.

probe, periodontal,

n a fine-calibrated instrument designed and used for measuring the depth and topography of gingival and periodontal pockets. Also used to determine the degree of attachment and adaptation of the gingival tissues to the tooth. Automated devices are now available for dental offices and clinics.

Marquis color-coded probe.

Nabers probe.

Williams probe.

probe, Williams,

n.pr a round, conical-shaped device used to assess the progression and extent of disease within the tissues of the oral cavity. The probe has markings at 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, and 10 MM. The probe may be available with color coding.

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periodontal

around a tooth; pertaining to the periodontium.

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periodontal abscess

a localized, acute infection that may drain into the gingival pocket or directly through the gum. There is often local bone destruction. See also malar abscess.

periodontal charting

recording the periodontal indices in dental records.

periodontal disease

any disease or disorder of the periodontium. See also periodontitis and periodontosis.

periodontal fibrous hyperplasia

see periodontal fibromatous epulis.

periodontal indices

indicators of periodontal health; includes amount of plaque and calculus, changes in the gingiva, probing depth, evaluation of attachment, and grade of mobility.

periodontal ligament

the connective tissue that occupies the space between each tooth and its socket and that suspends the tooth.

periodontal pocket

a deep space between the gingiva and the crown or root of a tooth. It can be the result of hyperplasia of the gingiva (false pocket) or migration of the epithelial attachment toward the apex (true pocket).

periodontal probe

a dental instrument used to measure the depth of the periodontal pocket.

periodontal pseudopocket

gingival hyperplasia or swelling may be responsible for increased sulcus depth but the periodontal membrane and alveolar bone are normal.