BPE screening of children
BPE screening of children and adolescents <18 years
Periodontal screening for children and adolescents aged 7 to 17 years assesses six index teeth using a simplified BPE.27
Explain to the patient the reason for the examination.
Examine 16, 11, 26, 36, 31, 46 using a WHO BPE probe (see figure: WHO BPE probe) and light probing force equivalent to the force required to blanch a fingernail (see figure: Probing force).
Record the highest score for each tooth as illustrated in table BPE Scoring codes.
- BPE codes 0 – 2 are used for 7- to 11-year-olds (mixed dentition stage) to screen for bleeding and the presence of local plaque retentive factors.
- The full range of codes, including any furcation involvement, can be used in 12- to 17-year-olds (permanent teeth erupted).
Refer any child with evidence of periodontitis or unexplained gingival enlargement to a consultant in paediatric dentistry, consultant in restorative dentistry or specialist periodontist.
BPE Scoring codes
|
Probing depth |
Observation |
BPE Score |
|
Black band |
No probing depths >3.5 mm, no calculus/overhangs, no bleeding after probing, no plaque present |
0 |
|
Black band |
No probing depths >3.5 mm, no calculus/overhangs, but bleeding after probing |
1 |
|
Black band |
No probing depths >3.5 mm, but supra- or subgingival calculus/overhangs present |
2 |
|
Black band |
Probing depth(s) of at least 4 mm present |
3 |
|
Black band |
Probing depth(s) of at least 6 mm present |
4 |
|
N/A |
Furcation involvement |
* |
