Journal of clinical periodontology
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This investigation was undertaken to determine the intra- and inter-examiner reliability of the method of stimulation for bleeding used in the Eastman interdental bleeding index. 26 subjects were examined twice, 1 h apart, by either a single examiner or 2 examiners in each half of their mouths, for the presence bleeding after stimulation with a wooden interdental cleaner. Scores were tabulated and intra- and inter-examiner % agreements and kappa-coefficients calculated. Z-tests were performed on the pairs of agreement statistics to check for significant differences. ⋯ The overall inter-examiner agreement statistics were good (82.8% to 87.6% agreement; 0.62-0.75 kappa coefficient). When inter-examiner data were analyzed at facial or lingual sites by arch and location, a significant difference existed in reliability for mandibular posterior lingual sites, but reliability was high in all other areas. These data demonstrate a high level of reproducibility for this method, which suggests that the Eastman interdental bleeding index is suitable for clinical trials and epidemiologic studies of interdental gingivitis.