A comparison between measurements made with a conventional periodontal pocket probe, an electronic pressure probe and measurements made at surgery.

This study compared clinical measurements using a manual periodontal probe and an electronic pressure probe using a 0.25 N force, and related them to measurement of the bone levels at the time of surgery. All measurements were taken from the cemento-enamel junction at specified sites. It was found that neither probing technique provided a means for accurately measuring bone level. In the presence of healed tissue, little difference was found between the two instruments; whereas the manual probe more closely approximated the actual level of bone in the presence of inflammation. It was therefore concluded that under the conditions of present study the manual probe depth measurements were the more applicable for routine clinical use.