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How do I measure with the Periotron? |
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1. |
Using
cotton rolls, isolate the gingival site or sites to be measured. |
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2. |
Place a
saliva aspirator in the patient's mouth. |
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3. |
With an
air syringe, gently dry the area around the gingival crevice where GCF
is to be measured. Blow air from the syringe across but not into the
crevice or pocket. |
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4. |
Using
cotton pliers, grasp the orange plastic handle of a Periopaper® strip
and pull a fresh strip from its clear plastic support mounted on the
Periopaper® strip holder. |
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5. |
With
the other hand, adjust the strip between the beaks of the pliers so that
the ends of the beaks close on the white portion of the strip about 1/3
of its length from the orange handle. This will make it easier to place
the strip into the crevice and to feel when the strip reaches the base
of the crevice. |
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6. |
Insert
the strip into the gingival crevice; then release the grip of the pliers
on the strip and allow the strip to remain in place on its own for 5
seconds. It is simplest to count off the 5 seconds as one-one thousand,
two-one thousand etc. |
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7. |
Next
remove the strip by grasping the orange handle with the cotton pliers. |
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8. |
Transfer the strip to the Periotron meter for GCF measurement. Position
the strip on the lower sensor so that all but about 1 mm of the white
part of the strip ends up between the sensors when they are brought
together. Close the movable upper sensor arm and record the reading. |
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9. |
When
making a large number of GCF measurements, as for example, doing a whole
mouth 'survey', a "four-handed" technique may be used. The dentist or
hygienist isolates and dries the measurement site. The assistant
simultaneously performs step 4, then hands the cotton pliers and strip
to the dentist or hygienist who then performs steps 5 to 7 inclusive.
The cotton pliers and strip are then handed back to the assistant who
performs step 8. The whole process takes less than one minute. Repeat
until the survey is completed. |
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10. |
At all
times, the sensors of the instrument should be handled with care. The
special coatings on their surfaces are essential for proper operation.
When placing strips between the sensors and when bringing the sensors
together, do so with care. To do otherwise may damage them and the
meter. |
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11. |
If
residual crevicular fluid or debris is left on the sensors, the meter
may not zero with a fresh dry strip. Consequently, the sensors should be
gently wiped with a paper tissue (e.g. Kleenex) wetted with a small
amount of 70% ethyl alcohol. Dry the sensors with a dry paper tissue and
then proceed. Check Periotron "00" setting with a dry filter paper
strip. |
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12. |
Check
Periotron "00" periodically (usually after a whole series of readings)
and readjust if necessary. |
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13. |
A
reading of 0 - 20 on the Periotron meter indicates that the tissue is
healthy and shows little or no inflammation. Readings increase with
increase in the severity of inflammation. A reading between 20 and 60
indicates mild inflammation but not periodontitis; 60 - 150 indicates
moderately severe condition and > 150 very severe inflammation. Above a
reading of about 60, one can expect the bacterial activity and level of
putrefaction to be a severe enough risk factor for periodontitis to
proceed. In other words, one can expect at these levels with time to see
clinical evidence of epithelial attachment loss and periodontal pocket
development which in due time may be measurable upon periodontal
probing. The more and the longer that the GCF is above this level, the
greater the chance that the relatively insensitive method of periodontal
probing will indicate periodontium damage. Just as elevated blood
pressure is a high risk factor for cardiovascular disease, elevated GCF
levels should be considered to denote a risk of periodontal disease. |
