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BPE screening of children

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BPE screening of children and adolescents <18 years

Periodontal screening for children and adolescents aged 7 to 17 years assesses six index teeth using a simplified BPE.27  

Explain to the patient the reason for the examination.

Examine 16, 11, 26, 36, 31, 46 using a WHO BPE probe and light probing force equivalent to the force required to blanch a fingernail (see figure: Probing force).

Record the highest score for each tooth as illustrated in table BPE Scoring codes.  

  • BPE codes 0 – 2 are used for 7- to 11-year-olds (mixed dentition stage) to screen for bleeding and the presence of local plaque retentive factors. 
  • The full range of codes, including any furcation involvement, can be used in 12- to 17-year-olds (permanent teeth erupted).

Refer any child with evidence of periodontitis or unexplained gingival enlargement to a consultant in paediatric dentistry, consultant in restorative dentistry or specialist periodontist. 

The score for each tooth is recorded in a 2 x 3 box chart (with a missing tooth denoted by an X) as shown below.

Box chart with charting of BPE scores for children

Image showing a completed child box chart