Dental OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Examination) Practice Exam

How is a severe periodontal problem identified?

1. Increased bleeding

2. Increase in probing depths

3. Patient complaints of discomfort

4. Loss of attachment

The correct answer is: Increase in probing depths

A severe periodontal problem is identified predominantly by an increase in probing depths. This measurement reflects the amount of attachment loss around the teeth, indicating the extent of periodontal disease. As the disease progresses, the supporting structures of the tooth, including both the gum tissue (gingiva) and the underlying bone, become compromised. The probing depth is taken using a periodontal probe, and deeper pockets signify greater health issues and loss of periodontium. Increased probing depth can be indicative of active disease, whereas normal probing depths are associated with healthy periodontal tissues. While increased bleeding, patient discomfort, and loss of attachment may also be observed in periodontal disease, they do not specifically pinpoint the severity of the condition as directly as probing depths do. Bleeding is more indicative of inflammation rather than the overall health of supporting structures, discomfort can be subjective and not consistently present, and loss of attachment is a consequence of disease progression rather than a direct measurement of its current severity. Thus, probing depths provide the clearest and most accurate means of identifying severe periodontal problems.