PENTEADO, Luiz Alexandre Moura et al. Standardization assessment of the periodontal probes used on a higher education institution from Maceió-AL. IJD, Int. j. dent. []. 2010, 9, 3, pp. 120-127. ISSN 1806-146X.

The establishment of the periodontal diagnostic is based on the clinical parameters assessments by means of the periodontal probing. Errors on the structure standardization of the periodontal probe can lead to a choice of an inappropriate treatment planning. The present study verified the standardization of 56 manual periodontal probes type Williams from the trademarks Golgran e Neumar used by students from the Dentistry School CESMAC, Maceió-AL. It was investigated weight, diameter of the sphere and the tip and the millimeters markings. The statistical analysis was performed by means of the t-Student test. Concerning the weight, there were significant statistical differences between the trademarks (p< 0.001), being this value higher for Neumar probes. The sphere average diameter of the tip from the Neumar probes was 0.6681 ± 0.0175, statistically different from the recommended value by the World Health Organization. The tip diameter evaluation among the trademarks demonstrated significant statistical differences, being distinctly higher on the Golgran probes for all the thirds of the tip. The tip diameter of Golgran probes was similar on the initial and medium thirds, although they had been statistically different from the final third. However, the Neumar probes tip diameter was regularly increasing, suggestive of a conical three dimensional shape. There were significant statistical differences only between the millimeters markings from 5 to 7 mm. It was concluded that the use of Neumar and Golgran periodontal probes influences negatively the probing depth and attachment level and the bleeding on probing. Besides the millimeters markings variations can interfere on the periodontal diagnostic.

: Probe; Periodontitis; Diagnostic.