How do dental hygienists remember periodontal pocket measurements without writin!
Question: I went to the dentists and the hygienists measured the pockets on my teeth, but did not write down the measurements until she was completely finished. I asked her how she could remember all those numbers. and she said she could. I know last time I had this done.the dental hygienists had someone with her as she called out 2, 5,3 then the tooth number, etc.
This hygienists did not use a specialized instrument that remembers the depth numbers. just a regular measurement probe.
Answers: I went to the dentists and the hygienists measured the pockets on my teeth, but did not write down the measurements until she was completely finished. I asked her how she could remember all those numbers. and she said she could. I know last time I had this done.the dental hygienists had someone with her as she called out 2, 5,3 then the tooth number, etc.
This hygienists did not use a specialized instrument that remembers the depth numbers. just a regular measurement probe.
she can't remember them. She was likely checking for unhealthy sites and if there were none she didn't need to remember anything other then healthy. Many hygienists do not chart a previously healthy mouth every single visit once you are an established patient. She may do it yearly. If she was calling numbers out she may have had a tape recorder or a dental assistant behind you. If you are not healthy and have periodontal disease there is no way to remember all those numbers.
maybe she wasnt intending to chart down the exact depth of the gum pockets.
rather, she may just be looking for areas that was abnormal and requires attention.
the normal probing depth is 1-3mm in health and there should be no bleeding.
while areas having a probing depth more than 4mm is having some gum disease and require her attention.