What periodontal probing number is considered normal?

• A. 1-3
• B. 4-5
• C. 0-2
• D. 3-6

Answer: (A)

Healthy gums show a shallow periodontal sulcus, and probing depths in clinicians’ hands typically fall in the 1 to 3 millimeters range. This is the baseline for a non-diseased periodontium: the probe tip sits just below the gingival margin without forming a pocket or causing excessive tissue recession. Readings deeper than 3 millimeters indicate pockets formed by inflammation and attachment loss, which points to periodontal disease. Conversely, depths that are shallower than 1 millimeter aren’t the standard measure of health in exams, and ranges like 0-2 or 3-6 imply either measurement nuances or pocketing beyond normal. So, 1 to 3 millimeters is the normal periodontal probing depth.