Which technique is used to evaluate the depth of periodontal pockets?

• A. Pocket measurement
• B. Xrays
• C. Blood pressure
• D. Visual inspection

Answer: (A)

Evaluating periodontal pocket depth is done by using a periodontal probe to measure the vertical distance from the gingival margin to the base of the pocket. This probing provides a numeric reading in millimeters that directly reflects how deep the pocket is, which is essential for determining periodontal disease severity and monitoring treatment response. While X-rays can reveal bone loss that may accompany deep pockets, they do not give the precise, current pocket depth you get from probing. Blood pressure is unrelated, and visual inspection alone cannot quantify how far the pocket extends. Six sites per tooth are typically assessed to capture the variation around each tooth.