INDICES OF PERIODONTAL DISEASE Eddie Jenkai Wong BSc (McMaster), BDS (Sydney) UNIVERSITY O- SYDNEY DENTAL LISRAR A thesis submitted in partial requirement for the Diploma in Public Health Dentistry Department of Preventive Dentistry Faculty of Dentistry University of Sydney 1983ii ‘SUMMARY Periodontal disease is a very common condition among the dentate population. A description of its severity rather than its mere presence or absence is essential for both the epidemiologist and the clinician in evaluating the disease. The first attempt in objective quantification of periodontal disease began in 1947 with the PMA Index of Shour and Massler. This was followed by Russell's Periodontal Index (PI 1956), Ramfjord's Periodontal Disease Index (PDI 1959) and Greene and Vermillion's Oral Hygiene Index - Simplified (OHI-S 1964). Also in 1964, Silness and Loe developed the Gingival and Plaque Indices (GI and P1I) for use in experimental gingivitis studies, Many other indices have since evolved from these indices according to the particular researcher's needs. Only those conforming closest to the following requirements will be reviewed in this treatise: 1, Simple to use at minimal time and cost; 2. Possessing a high degree of inter- and intra-examiner reproducibility; 3. Indicate in a meaningful way the clinical stages of the disease;iii 4, Amenable to statistical analysis. Periodontal indices can be classified into four broad groups according to the various periodontal disease Parameters which they purport to measure: 1, etiologic factors (soft and hard oral deposits) ; 2. and 3, degree of gingival inflammation and periodontal destruction of supporting soft tissue and bone and 4, the periodontal treatment needs of individuals or populations. Soft Deposits Four types of measurements are used in assessing the accumulations of oral soft deposits. The plaque area method includes various numerical indices (eg. Ramfjord's PDI, O'Leary's GPI, Green & Vermillion's OHI-S) and the quantification of area by photographs and area measuring devices, “The thickness of plaque is the scoring criterion in the Pl I of Silness & Loe, Plaque weight provides another alternative measurement. Furthermore, the quantity and quality (eg. the pathogenic potential as related to specific organisms, concentration of endotoxins) of plaque can be estimated by laboratory techniques. The selection of a particular index depends on the objective of the study, the method used and the nature of