title: A comparison of WHO periodontal status index with the periodontal and oral hygiene indices.
abstract: Examination of 2,138 subjects, aged 15-65+ years, was carried out by calibrated examiners using mirrors and fibre optic illumination. Each subject was scored by the Periodontal Status Index, PSI (WHO Oral Health Surveys), Periodontal Index, PI (Russell) and the Oral Hygiene Index, OHI (Greene & Vermillion). For the PSI, PI and OHI all scores were age-dependent with the exception of soft deposits in PSI and OHI, which were age-independent. The advantages of the PSI system were considered to be the ease of scoring and the opportunity to assess treatment requirements, in terms of time, at the public health service level. Disadvantages were lack of quantitation, difficulties of diagnosis of intense gingivitis, and localized and general conditions. The PI and OHI systems provided a more objective, quantitative and sensitive basis of scoring than the PSI. Statistical tests showed the respective indices are associated and measuring the same kind of criteria. Examiner calibration and consistency were similar for both scoring systems.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003753:Dental Health Surveys; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009911:Oral Hygiene Index; D010512:Periodontal Index; D014944:World Health Organization