Comparison of right-handed and left-handed dental students in measurement of periodontal pocket depth

The precision of periodontal pocket measurements with periodontal probe is related to different factors. Some of these are related to examiner. The purpose of this study was to compare the right-handed and left-handed dental students in the measurement of periodontal pocket depth (PPD). Eight systemically healthy adult patients (mean age of 35 years) with 0.5-6 mm periodontal pocket depth and a minimum of 20 teeth were examined by 4 right-handed and 4 left-handed students of dentistry (mean age of 25 years). These students were trained for periodontal examination probe depth measurements with Williams probe. Measurements were inserted in SPSS software and analyzed with Iintraclass correlation coefficient (ICCS) and T-test. There was statistically significant difference in the measurement of PPD between right-handed and left-handed examiners in the whole mouth (P<0.05), but this difference (0.08 mm) was not clinically significant. The most difference was found in the posterior teeth of mandible at right quadrant (mean=0.2 mm). Analyses of each pair of same handed and different handed examiners with T-test and ICCS showed that these measurements were nearly similar and reproducible. There was no clinically significant difference in measurement of PPD between right-handed and left-handed examiners.