Reliability of the CPITN in the epidemiological assessment of periodontal treatment needs at 13-15 years of age.

The aim of this study was to assess the difference in the results obtained when using the two methods of recording the Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs (Ainamo et al., 1982) in teenaged children. A group of 240 13-15-year-old schoolchildren were clinically examined for pocketing, the presence of calculus and overhanging fillings, and gingival bleeding after gentle probing of the tooth surfaces. Pocket depths were also determined. False pockets around erupting teeth were recorded as gingivitis whenever bleeding was observed after probing. None of the children was found to exhibit deep pockets associated with true loss of tooth attachment. The presence of dental calculus was assessed equally well by examination of the index teeth in each sextant and by examination of all teeth for the determination of the sextant score. Gingival bleeding, however, was observed more often in the maxillary anterior sextant by full mouth examination than by examination of the gingiva around the right central incisor alone. Due to the high prevalence of gingival bleeding in young subjects, it is suggested that for the identification of treatment priorities, examination of the specified index teeth is of greater value than full mouth examinations. It is not appropriate to include false pockets around erupting teeth as indicators of moderate or advanced treatment need.