What do the numbers mean?

[slider]

Hi

Recently had my 6 monthly check up. The dentist went around my teeth and
called out numbers to the dental nurse (who was recording them in what I
guess was my notes), as if gauging something, e.g. 1, 2, 1, 2.... etc.

Can someone please explain what they were referring to?

Thanks

[vaughn]

"slider" <sli...@slide.com> wrote in message
news:hee7vr$1s2a$1...@adenine.netfront.net...

To me, (not a dentist) that means that you have found a dentist who is willing
to take the time to chart the depth of your periodontal pockets. I have had
exactly one dentist do that...ever.

Your will probably draw a better answer from a real dentist, but until then here
is a wiki article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gingival_and_periodontal_pocket

Vaughn

[Steven Bornfeld]

Vaughn is almost certainly right. I'd add that if all you heard were
ones and twos your gums probably are in pretty good shape.

Steve

[Dartos]

Adding to Vaughn's mention of one dentist charting his pocket
depths, I would add:

Some dentists do seem to ignore this step in an exam.

Many have hygienists who perform this procedure.

My policy:

I (or my hygienist) probe everyone, but when everything is 'normal',
I don't record each pocket on the chart. When there are a couple
of '4s' or '5s' I will mark those pockets and again, not record
all of the normals. When there are lots of abnormal readings, that's
when I record 6 numbers for each tooth.

So, if everything is fine, you won't hear me calling out numbers.
If things are not fine everywhere, you will hear a few numbers called
out in the problem areas. When most of the mouth is involved with
perio, 6 numbers for each tooth get called and written in the chart.

Best wishes,
D

>>> Recently had my 6 monthly check up. The dentist went around my teeth
>>> and called out numbers to the dental nurse (who was recording them in
>>> what I guess was my notes), as if gauging something, e.g. 1, 2, 1,
>>> 2.... etc.

> Vaughn is almost certainly right. I'd add that if all you heard were

[Tin@]

> > Steve-

We pocketchart every adult at least once a year, more often for deeper
pockets. My hygienist says "2's and 3's are good, 4's are borderline,
5 and above we'll talk about".