[A comparative study of 3 planimetric methods of plaque evaluation].

Three plaque-scoring methods were compared by studying planimetrically on front teeth from coloured slides. Three criteria were investigated reprocucibility, discrinimating power and scoring time. Reproducibility was high and nearly the same for all methods. The discrinimating power of the tracing-method and the Optocom-method were higher than was found for the pilot-method. In conclusion the quick Pilot-method is useful in epidemiological studies whilst the other two time-consuming methods are preferable in clinical trials and follow-up studies.. The scoring time for the Optocom-method is half of that needed for the tracing method; this advantage speaks in favour of the semi-automatic Optocom-method in experimental/follow-up studies