An analysis of the Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs. Studies on adults in France. III--Partial examinations versus full-mouth examinations.

1005 persons were examined using the Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs. Presence or absence of every clinical sign was registered for each tooth. A specially written program computed CPITN values corresponding to full mouth or partial examinations. Results compare the prevalence and treatment needs obtained through either full mouth or partial examinations. Cross tabulation analysis of the number of cases detected by full mouth and partial examinations shows differences in detection rates of 23.5 per cent for deep pockets, 17.6 per cent for moderate pockets, 13.4 per cent for calculus, 3.2 per cent for bleeding and 53.0 per cent for health. When determining treatment needs using the partial examination procedure approximations of the number of subjects needing hygiene education and scaling are acceptable but the evaluation of the number of individuals needing complex therapy is greatly underestimated. The CPITN is most accurate using full mouth examinations.