Edwards developed a Bleeding Index (BI) for measuring the mesial and distal interproximal sulcus health of 6 designated teeth based on their tendency to bleed after a standard stimulus. Monitoring the index over time can help determine if a plaque control program is effective. The author is a caption in the US Navy.
Designated Tooth (US Classification)
Location
3
right maxillary first molar
9
left maxillary medial incisor
12
left maxillary first premolar (bicuspid)
19
left mandibular first molar
25
right mandibular medial incisor
28
right mandibular first premolar (bicuspid)
Both the mesial and distal interproximal sulcus of each selected tooth is tested, for a total of 12 sites (6*2).
Method:
(1) Dental tape is placed against the tooth surface in a bucco-lingual manner and inserted to the base of the intersulcular gingival crevice.
(2) An apical-coronal movement is made with tape twice.
(3) The tape is then removed.
(4) The site is observed for 15 seconds for onset of bleeding.
Status at End of 15 Seconds
Points
no bleeding
0
bleeding
1
bleeding index =
= SUM(points for all 12 sites tested)
Interpretation:
• minimum index: 0
• maximum index: 12
• The lower the score, the better the interproximal sulcus health.
• A decline in the index over time indicates that the patient is using an effective plaque control method.
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