National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE) Dental Hygienist Practice Test

What procedure is most effective for evaluating periodontal disease?

1. Digital X-rays

2. Clinical probing

3. CBCT scan

4. Visual inspection

The correct answer is: Clinical probing

Clinical probing is the most effective procedure for evaluating periodontal disease because it directly assesses the health of the periodontal tissues by measuring the depth of the gingival sulcus and determining attachment levels. This technique provides valuable information regarding pocket depth, bleeding on probing, and inflammation. It allows dental hygienists to identify areas of periodontal attachment loss, which is critical for diagnosing and classifying the severity of periodontal disease. The other methods, while useful in their own right, do not provide the same level of detailed information specifically related to gum health. Digital X-rays can assist in visualizing bone loss associated with periodontal disease but do not give direct measurements of the sulcus depth or tissue attachment. A CBCT scan offers a three-dimensional view of the periodontal structures but is typically reserved for complex cases and provides more information than is usually required for basic periodontal assessments. Visual inspection is important for detecting signs of gingivitis and inflammation but lacks the quantitative data that clinical probing provides. Thus, while all these methods are valuable, clinical probing stands out as the most effective for comprehensive evaluation.