Which tool is used to check gingival pocket depths?

• A. Periodontal probing
• B. Curette
• C. Scaler
• D. Polisher

Answer: (A)

Measuring gingival pocket depths is done with a periodontal probe—the slender instrument with marked millimeter measurements that is designed to enter the gingival sulcus. By gently inserting it into the sulcus around each tooth, you obtain the depth from the gum margin to the bottom of the pocket, typically at multiple sites per tooth. This depth information helps distinguish healthy sulci (usually 1–3 mm) from periodontal pockets that indicate disease progression and guides diagnosis and treatment. The other tools are for cleaning and polishing: a curette or scaler removes calculus and debris from tooth surfaces, not for measuring depth, and a polisher smooths enamel after cleaning. So the periodontal probe is the tool specifically used to assess pocket depth.