What dental instrument is used to measure periodontal pocket depth?

The periodontal probe is specifically designed for measuring the depth of periodontal pockets, which is a critical aspect of assessing gum health. This instrument has a calibrated, slender tip, allowing dental professionals to gently insert it into the sulcus between the gum and tooth structure to determine how deep the pocket is. This measurement helps diagnose the presence and severity of periodontal disease.

In practice, periodontal pocket measurements can provide vital information that guides treatment decisions and helps monitor the efficacy of periodontal therapy over time. The probe typically features markings at set intervals, allowing the clinician to easily read the pocket depth as they maneuver the instrument around each tooth.

The other instruments mentioned serve very different purposes. An explorer is used primarily for detecting dental caries or calculus on tooth surfaces. A scalpel is utilized for making incisions in soft tissue during surgical procedures, while an excavator is designed for removing decayed dental material. Each of these instruments plays an important role in dental practice, but they do not provide the specific function of measuring periodontal depths, which is why the periodontal probe is the correct choice for this question.