Development of a system for quantitative measurements of tooth mobility

Abstract

Tooth mobility may be an important parameter for determining the severity of the destruction of periodontal attachment apparatus. In evaluating the effectiveness of periodontal treatment the examination of tooth mobility is also considered significant. It is logical then, that the measurement of mobility of teeth for clinical and research purposes must be accurate. A mobility measuring device was developed, constructed and recordings made on three patients. The instrument is capable of recording tooth mobility accurately to 1/1000 of a millimeter. The device also has the advantage over other existing measuring devices in that mobility is related to a fixed reference point. ·The sensing portion of the equipment is fixed to a removable appliance and need not be adjusted or reset each time a measurement is made. In this manner the mobility of a tooth in its socket following treatment in periodontally involved patients can be observed. The recordings obtained suggest very little change in mobility between the pre-operative and post-operative periods of 3 weeks. A marked increase was noted at the 3 days post-operative recording. This increase reached its peak at 12 days, after which it decreased and remained level at the properative measurement. No significant decrease following subgingival instrumentation was noted after 21 days.