Automated periodontal probing and recording.

Attempts to standardize and improve periodontal probes have resulted in the introduction of automated probing devices as well as recording systems and enhanced methods to measure and analyze periodontal data. Newer technologies include constant-force, electronically linked probes, thermal and mobility probes, and the use of automated speech recognition to gather and record information. The coupling of these systems with computers has increased our ability to analyze periodontal disease parameters and to gain a new understanding of criteria necessary to measure disease activity.