How many measurements per tooth are taken during periodontal probing?

• A. 6
• B. 4
• C. 2
• D. 8

Answer: (A)

The practice relies on taking measurements at multiple sites around each tooth because periodontal status isn’t uniform around a tooth. By probing six standard locations, you get a complete picture of pockets and recession, not just a single number. Those six sites are on the buccal and lingual sides: mesio-buccal, mid-buccal, disto-buccal, mesio-lingual, mid-lingual, and disto-lingual. Recording depth at each site lets you detect localized deep pockets, determine attachment loss, and assess bleeding on probing more accurately. Using six sites per tooth strikes a balance between thoroughness and efficiency, whereas fewer sites could miss problems on one aspect, and more sites don’t add necessary diagnostic value for routine probing.