Review charting
Review charting for ongoing monitoring of patients with a diagnosis of periodontitis
Required for review charting (in addition to assessing plaque biofilm levels):
- Assess probing pocket depths and bleeding on probing at 6 points around each tooth.
- Record probing pocket depths at sites of ≥4 mm.
- Record sites which bleed on probing.
Recommended for review charting:
(These parameters may be useful to monitor treatment outcomes, periodontal status and prognosis in the long term.)
- Charting of furcation involvement;
- Charting of suppuration;
- Charting of tooth mobility;
- Charting of gingival recession (where this is present).
Record any missing teeth.
Measure probing pocket depth, in millimetres, at six sites around each tooth (i.e. mesiobuccal, midbuccal, distobuccal, mesiolingual, midlingual and distolingual) at least annually for patients for a diagnosis of periodontitis. Record probing pocket depth measurements at any sites ≥4 mm, with or without bleeding.
- Use a light probing force, equivalent to the force required to blanch a fingernail (see figure Probing force).
- ‘Walk’ the probe around the gingival margin of each tooth (see figure: "Walking" the probe) and record measurements for the greatest probing depth at each of the six sites for each tooth.
Record the absence or presence (0 or 1) of bleeding on probing from the base of the pocket (see Bleeding on probing).
Consider recording any suppuration observed when probing.
Consider recording any furcation involvement for multi-rooted teeth, with an indication of the severity (see Measurement of furcation involvement).
Consider recording the degree of tooth mobility or its absence (see Tooth mobility).
Consider recording at least one measure of the greatest extent of gingival recession observed, in millimetres, for both the buccal and lingual surfaces of each tooth (see Measuring gingival recession).
Consider recording any other observations, such as presence of dental caries, occlusal discrepancies or problems with restorations.
Consider whether a radiographic examination to assess alveolar bone levels is appropriate (see Use of radiographs).