In severe periodontitis, what does the probe do?

In cases of severe periodontitis, the probing depth can be significantly increased due to the destruction of supporting periodontal tissues. The probe, designed to measure the depth of the sulcus or pocket surrounding the teeth, can move past the junctional epithelium into the connective tissue that underlies the periodontal attachment. This means that the probe penetrates deeper into the underlying structures due to the loss of attachment that characterizes severe periodontitis, indicating a more advanced state of tissue destruction.

The ability of the probe to reach beyond the connective tissues of the junctional epithelium is important for diagnosis, as it reveals the extent of periodontal tissue loss and aids in determining the severity of the disease. In contrast, other options indicate situations where probing is limited or does not reflect the true extent of tissue loss, making them less relevant in the context of severe periodontitis.