Reproducibility of Florida probe with stent in attachment level measurement

Objectives: It was showed that controlled-force probes such as Florida probe could improved reproducibility of attachment level measurements compared with manual probes, but whether a stent could improve the reproducibility of Florida probe in attachment level measurement is not clear. The objectives of this study were to compare the reproducibility of Florida probe with a stent with Florida probe alone and to compare the reproducibility of Florida probe with a manual probe both guided with a stent in relative attachment level (RAL) measurement.

Methods: Fifteen patients in periodontal maintenance phase were recruited. A stent was made for each patient. The RAL of teeth 11, 14, 16, 31, 34, 36 were measured in 6 sites each tooth by Florida probe with a stent and without a stent 1 hour later. The RAL of teeth 21, 24, 26, 41, 44, 46 were measured by Florida probe and UNC-15 probe both with a stent. The same measurements were repeated 24 hours later for evaluating the reproducibility of 3 probing methods: Florida probe with a stent, Florida probe without a stent, and a manual probe with a stent. One examiner performed all measurements.

Results: The mean difference between repeated RAL measurements with Florida probe combined with a stent was 0.34±0.30mm, which significantly less than that with Florida probe only (0.46±0.50mm, P<0.005), and also significantly less than that with UNC 15 probe combined with a stent (0.45±0.49mm, P<0.005). The better reproducibility of Florida probe with a stent in RAL measurement compared with other 2 methods were found in median (4-6mm) and deep pockets (>6mm).

Conclusion: It was suggested that a stent could improve the reproducibility of Florida probe in RAL measurement. The reproducibility of Florida probe combined with a stent in RAL measurement was also better than that of conventional probe combined with a stent.