The oral examination is an integral part of your overall health assessment. During each exam, you may have noticed the dentist gently inserting a periodontal probe between your gum and tooth while calling out a series of numbers. A few years ago the American Dental Association and the American Academy of Periodontology devised a simple standardized system to effectively screen and provide for detection of periodontal disease.
Periodontal disease is the number one cause of tooth loss in adults.
PSR exams should be a routine part of every exam for people over 18 and children and adolescents at risk of periodontal disease. Your mouth will be evaluated in six regions with a special probe. Each region will be coded 0 through 4. The information is then used by the dentist to determine your needs. For example, if all your scores are 2 or less, an additional in-depth examination is not required at this point although some treatment may be recommended.