Oral hygiene indicators

Oral hygiene indicators are used for repeated assessment of the hygiene status of gums and teeth. Thanks to their use, dental hygienist is able to show the patient whether the methods he uses to take care of the health of teeth and gums bring the expected effects or not. This assessment, repeated during hygienic visits, allows for a recurring comparison of the effectiveness of the patient's teeth cleansing. Our hygienist at the beginning of each hygiene procedure: stone removal, sandblasting or professional teeth purification with fluoride performs a measurement of two indicators of oral hygiene – PBI and API. It takes only a few minutes to measure the indicators and get to know them and is completely painless. Repeating the measurement on the next visit and comparing it allows you to better plan a comprehensive care for oral health. The indicators measured by hygienist are:

• API (Aproximal Plaque Index) – this indicator allows you to assess the amount of plaque in the patient. The measurement is carried out by examining the presence of plaque in the interdental spaces of the patient. The result is given as a percentage of interdental spaces in which the plate occurs. It allows you to track very accurately the condition of oral hygiene. API is one of the most important indicators evaluated before implant surgeries and surgical procedures. The values of the indicator above 20% are contraindications to implantological and surgical procedures.
• PBI (Papilla Bleding Index) – this indicator illustrates the condition and condition of the gums based on the measurement of bleeding interdental papillae. During the study, the condition of the gum warts is assessed on a 4-stage scale, the result depends on the amount of bleeding warts and the degree of bleeding. When comparing the PBI at the turn of time, we can determine whether the condition of the gums in the patient's mouth has improved or worsened.

Faqs:

• How often should API and PBI surveys be performed? – the dental hygienist measures the indicators during each hygienization visit, the frequency of such visits depends on the degree of care for oral hygiene by the patient. During each such visit, the hygienist carries out an oral hygiene instruction with the patient, during which he discusses the results of hygiene indicators and advises on how to take care of teeth to improve the condition of the gums.