How is pocket depth measured with a periodontal probe?

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BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

Question: How is pocket depth measured with a periodontal probe?

Option 1: 'From the cemento-enamel junction to the epithelial attachment' — This option is not correct for pocket depth measurement. The measurement typically relates to the gingival tissues, not the location of the cemento-enamel junction (CEJ) as the starting point. Using the CEJ would not reflect the actual sulcus or pocket depth as experienced clinically when probing.

Option 2: 'From the margin of the gingiva to the epithelial attachment' — This is the standard definition of periodontal pocket depth. The distance from the free gingival margin down to the epithelial attachment (JE) indicates how much pocket depth is present, and this measurement is what clinicians track to assess periodontal health.

Option 3: 'From the cemento-enamel junction to the margin of the gingiva' — This describes a measurement from the CEJ up to the gingival margin, which is more related to gingival recession or bi-/supra-gingival contour assessments, not pocket depth. It does not measure the depth of a periodontal pocket.

Option 4: 'From the cemento-enamel junction to the margin of the bone' — This would represent a marginal bone height or periodontal compartment distance rather than a pocket depth. Probing depth is not measured to the bone crest, and this option conflates buccal/crestal bone levels with sulcus depth, which is incorrect for the purpose of pocket depth.

Overall, understanding pocket depth hinges on the relationship between the free gingival margin and the epithelial attachment, because the probe is inserted from the gingival margin down to where the junctional epithelium attaches to the tooth. Misplacing the starting point (as in options 1, 3, or 4) leads to measurement that does not reflect the true sulcus or periodontal pocket depth.

How is pocket depth measured with a periodontal probe?

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