Oral Health

Training & Calibration Programme

Gingival Index

1
 Calibration Challenge

 Probing by the first examiner increases likelihood of bleeding

found by next examiner

 Therefore the training will focus on the technique rather than

actual score

2
 Principles

Sensing force - 20 grams

test this by placing the probe tip under the thumb nail and
press until blanching occurs

3
 Gingival index: Index teeth

7 6 543 2 1 12 3 4 567

7 6 5 4 321 1 23456 7

No substitutes except deciduous teeth for permanent

(55 52 64 75 72 84)

Permanent teeth take precedence

4
 Gingival index
Gingival Examination
Evaluate tissue changes in terms of:
Color
coral pink vs. deep red

Consistency
firm, resilient vs. edematous/fibrotic

Contour
knife-edge margins vs. rolled margins
Scalloped papilla vs. bulbous/thickened papilla

5
 Gingival index
 No substitutes allowed

 The index assesses the severity and prevalence of gingivitis by examining

only the qualitative changes

 Use the probe as a sensor

(do not probe the pocket/sulcus depth)

 Assess the mesial, distal, facial and lingual

 Consider sensing all teeth in an arch then recording the score

allows time for bleeding to occur

6
 Gingival Index – On All Ages

 Dry lightly with cotton rolls

 Use Williams probe

 20g pressure (blanch nail bed)

 Do not probe around implants

 Angle of probe tip to follow anatomical configuration of

tooth – follow the long axis of the tooth

7
 Gingival Index (Loe & Silness 1963)
0. Absence of inflammation

1. Mild inflammation; slight change in colour and little

change in texture. No bleeding on probing

2. Moderate inflammation; moderate glazing, redness,

oedema and hypertrophy; bleeding on sensing

3. Severe inflammation; marked redness and oedema;

tendency to spontaneous bleeding; ulceration

4. Permanent and primary tooth missing

8
 Stages of Inflammation

0. Absence of
inflammation

1. Mild inflammation;
slight change in
colour and little
change in texture

9
 Stages of Inflammation

2. Moderate inflammation; moderate

glazing, redness, oedema and
hypertrophy; bleeding on pressure

3. Severe inflammation; marked

redness and hypertrophy; tendency
to spontaneous bleeding; ulceration

10