The Periodontal Screening and Recording (PSR) Examination was developed in order to streamline the data gathering and record keeping for the screening of periodontal examination.
The PSR exam is patterned after the Community periodontal Index of Treatment Needs CPITN of the World Health Organization (WHO).
This kind of examination is very useful and fruitful since it has been estimated by ADA that nearly 75% of adults show some or the other form of periodontal disease and that wrong treatment due to wrong diagnosis of periodontal exam is quite common. Even if the complete periodontal exam is not needed, a periodontal Screening and Recording chart can be completed on a regular basis.
To track the changes in periodontal condition of the patient, various kinds of periodontal Screening and Recording charts are used and compared accordingly. The comparision is essentially based on color coding system, that is giving color codes to any changes that may occur.
Such charts can also be useful for bringing awareness and educating the patient about the condition and the process being followed to treat the condition.
This exam is complete with a periodontal probe that has a ball at the tic and a bac or colored band from 3.5-5.5 mm. While six sites are examined per tooth, a score for each sextant is determined and recorded.
Periodontal Screening and Recording Codes:
Code 0: The deepest probing in the sextant is ‘ass than 3.5 mm (the colored band remains completely visible) and there is bleeding, calculus, or defective restoraticris patient needs preventive care only.
Code 1: The colored band on the periodontal Screening and Recording probe remains completely visible. There is no calculus or defective restorative margins but there are bleeding at the gingival margin. Plaque must be removed and the patient instructed in proper oral hygiene.
Code 2: The colored band on the periodontal Screening and Recording probe remains completely visible. There is detectable calculus and/or defective restorative margins. Treatment consists of plaque and calculus removal, correction of plaque retentive factors, and oral hygiene instruction.
Code 3: The colored band on the probe is partially submerged in the pocket. This indicates a comprehensive periodontal examination and charting for the sextant in question. Two or more sextants with a score of 3 indicate a full mouth examination and charting.
Code 4: The colored band on the probe is completely submerged at one site. In periodontal Screening and Recording this indicates a comprehensive full mouth periodontal examination and charting.
Code *. An asterisk is added to the numerical sextant score when furcation involvement, mobility, mucogingival problem, or recession is present.