Dental Periodontal Probes

Which Dental Periodontal Probe Do You Need?

Choose the graduation first (UNC 15, CPG 12, WHO, CPN 22 or Williams), then a complete instrument or an insert that matches the thread of your Zepf handle; every product in the collection is linked once below by its Zepf number.

UNC 15 (North Carolina) probes, complete instruments

Zepf No.	Pattern or size
24.453.23	UNC 15, 1-15 mm, single-ended, round handle
24.744.50HZU	UNC 15, 1 mm steps, single-ended, TOUCHGRIP
24.216.06	UNC 15, 1-15 mm, M2.5 titanium inserts, ZEPF-bIONIK QuickFix handle, turquoise-brightblue
24.212.01	UNC 15 and Explorer 3A combination, M4 x 0.5 mm inserts, ZEPF-bIONIK QuickFix handle, black
24.853.14	UNC 15 and Periodontic Probe #16 combination, ZEPF-bIONIK QuickFix handle, cobalt-blue
24.853.24	UNC 15 and Periodontic Probe #16 combination, ZEPF-bIONIK QuickFix handle, lightred-magenta
24.854.14	UNC 15 and Periodontic Probe #3A combination, ZEPF-bIONIK QuickFix handle, cobalt-blue
24.854.24	UNC 15 and Periodontic Probe #3A combination, ZEPF-bIONIK QuickFix handle, lightred-magenta

Other graduations, complete instruments

Zepf No.	Pattern or size
24.453.12	CPG 12 (Marquis), 3-6-9-12 mm, single-ended, round handle
24.453.03	CP 11.5 (WHO), 3.5-5.5-8.5-11.5 mm, single-ended, round handle
24.453.22	CPN 22, 2-4-6-8-10-12 mm, single-ended, round handle

Furcation probes

Zepf No.	Pattern or size
24.453.15	Nabers furcation probe, 3-6-9-12 mm, rolled, double-ended, round handle
24.744.60HZU	TOUCHGRIP Nabers furcation curette/probe, curved, 3-6-9-12 mm, double-ended

Probe inserts, M2.5 thread

Zepf No.	Pattern or size
24.454.01	CPG 12, 3-6-9-12 mm
24.454.02	CPNG 22, 2-4-6-8-10-12 mm
24.454.03	CPG (WHO), 3.5-5.5-8.5-11.5 mm
24.454.05	Williams, 1-2-3-5-7-8-9-10 mm
24.454.06	North Carolina (UNC 15), 1-15 mm
24.454.06TI	North Carolina (UNC 15), 1-15 mm, titanium

Probe inserts, M4 x 0.5 mm thread

Zepf No.	Pattern or size
24.455.06	North Carolina (UNC 15), 1-15 mm
24.451.00	Contrast #1, 3-6-8-11 mm, pack of 12
24.451.01	Contrast CPG 12 (Marquis), 3-6-9-12 mm, pack of 12
24.451.02	Contrast CPNG 22, 2-4-6-8-10-12 mm, pack of 12
24.451.03	Contrast PCPG 11.5, 3.5-5.5-8.5-11.5 mm, pack of 12
24.451.06	Contrast North Carolina (UNC 15), 1-15 mm, pack of 12

Kahn probes for free gingival grafts

Zepf No.	Pattern or size
24.454.00	Kahn probe (periodontometer), 40 mm in 2 mm steps, Z-SHAPE Relax QuickFix handle
24.455.00	Kahn probe insert, interchangeable, M4 x 0.5 mm

Other diagnostic probes and explorers

Zepf No.	Pattern or size
24.744.08HZU	Ball probe with scale, depth gauge, single-ended, TOUCHGRIP
24.124.06	Explorer/probe #3CH cowhorn, double-ended, round stainless steel handle
24.114.00	Combination probe by Dr. Dietmar Weng (component of ImpacTray set 24.971.00)

What Are Dental Periodontal Probes?

Each Dental Periodontal Probe is a slender, calibrated instrument marked in millimeter increments. It is gently inserted into the sulcus or periodontal pocket alongside the tooth to measure the depth of the space between the tooth and the surrounding gingival tissue. Readings obtained guide clinical decision-making for scaling, root planing, surgical referrals, and ongoing maintenance care.

Key Features to Consider

• Calibration markings: Clear millimeter graduations allow for precise depth measurement and reliable documentation.
• Tip design: Rounded, blunt tips minimize patient discomfort and reduce the risk of tissue trauma during examination.
• Handle ergonomics: Balanced, textured handles support consistent grip and reduce clinician fatigue during full-mouth assessments.
• Material: High-quality stainless steel construction ensures durability, corrosion resistance, and compatibility with standard sterilization protocols.

Common Probe Styles

Selecting the right Dental Periodontal Probe depends on clinical context and practitioner preference. The most widely used styles include:

• Williams Probe: A widely used single-ended probe with markings at 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, and 10 mm.
• UNC-15 Probe: Marked at every millimeter up to 15 mm, suitable for detecting deep pockets.
• CPG 12 (Marquis) Probe: Color-coded bands at 3, 6, 9 and 12 mm for fast pocket-depth screening.
• WHO / CP 11.5 and CPN 22 Probes: Graduated 3.5-5.5-8.5-11.5 mm for periodontal screening, and 2-4-6-8-10-12 mm for charting in 2 mm increments.
• Color-coded probes: Band coding enhances readability and reduces charting errors.

History: Who Invented the Periodontal Probe?

The modern periodontal probe traces to 1936, when periodontist Charles H. M. Williams introduced the probe that bears his name — a thin stainless-steel instrument with a blunt 1mm-diameter tip and millimeter markings, deliberately omitting the 4mm and 6mm lines to make readings faster to call out and chart. It became the benchmark against which every later probe design was measured, and its descendants — the UNC-15 and the color-coded probes in this collection — are all refinements of the reading-and-marking problem Williams first solved. Nearly ninety years later, the Williams probe is still one of the most widely used in periodontal practice.

Clinical Use

Periodontal probes are used to measure sulcus and pocket depths, record attachment levels and bleeding sites during periodontal charting and screening, and assess furcation involvement with the Nabers furcation probes; the Kahn probes measure free gingival grafts in periodontal plastic surgery.

Care and Reconditioning

Clean and sterilize probes between patients following the manufacturer instructions and the symbols on each package, and replace a probe or insert once its tip is bent or its markings are hard to read; inserts are changed with the Zepf key for exchanging inserts. Our Dental Instrument Reprocessing & Sterilization Guide covers the general workflow.

Compare With

Related Helmut Zepf collections: Periodontal Probe Insert Collection, UNC 15 Periodontal Probe, CPG 12 Marquis Periodontal Probe, WHO / PSI Periodontal Probe, Nabers Furcation Probe, and Dental Explorers. For probe markings and terminology, see the Periodontal Probe Markings & Types Guide, the Hygiene Instrument Comparison Chart and the Dental Hygiene Instrument Glossary.

Related instruments: once pockets are charted, calculus removal continues with the Sickle Scaler Collection for supragingival deposits and the Gracey Curette Collection for area-specific subgingival scaling and root planing.

FAQ

What is the primary use of a Dental Periodontal Probe? It is used to measure the depth of periodontal pockets, assess gingival health, and detect bone loss patterns around teeth.

How are these probes sterilized? Most stainless steel probes are fully autoclavable and compatible with standard clinical sterilization cycles.

Which probe is best for routine checkups? The choice depends on clinician preference and case complexity; in this collection, the UNC 15 and Williams probes are common choices for routine periodontal charting, and the WHO probe is designed for periodontal screening.

How often should probing be performed? Probing frequency varies by patient risk level and disease status; clinicians typically reassess at every periodontal maintenance appointment.

Manufacturer literature: Contrast PA Probes flyer (PDF) · Titanium Periodontal Probe flyer (PDF) — more in our Hygiene Instrument Library.