Assessment of tooth mobility using small loads

Tooth mobility at loads between 20 p and 80 p was studied in maxillary incisors and canines in eight subjects with moderate periodontal disease. The periodontal conditions of the investigated teeth exhibited clinical criteria of gingival inflammation and a moderate loss of attachment. None of the subjects showed subjective or clinical signs of occlusal disturbances. In all, 35 teeth were investigated over the 12-week period following periodontal hygiene treatment, including oral hygiene instructions and removal of supra- and subgingival plaque and calculus. During the course of the investigation, a gradual decrease of tooth mobility was observed amounting to a tooth mobility decrease of 65% (using the corrective formula described by Mühlemann 1960) at 50 p load. Tooth mobility curves within the 20--80 p loading area were transformed to lines of regression (Persson & Svensson 1980). Analyses of the lines showed significantly lower tooth mobility values 12 weeks after start of treatment.