Perio history comparison
Compare two periodontal exams side-by-side to track change over time.
Overview
Comparing two perio exams highlights pockets that improved and pockets that worsened. It's the standard hygienist tool for measuring outcomes after scaling-and-root-planing or maintenance therapy.
Prerequisites
- Clinical role
advanced_chartingfeature flag- The patient has at least two perio exams on file
Steps
Open the comparison view. Top nav Dental Charts → Perio Compare, or from the patient profile → Charts → Periodontal → Compare.
Pick the patient. Search and select.
Select the baseline exam (left). From the history dropdown, pick the older exam.
Select the comparison exam (right). Pick the more recent exam.
Read the diff. Each tooth-surface cell shows two numbers: baseline and current. Improvements (smaller pockets) in green; worsening in red. Unchanged in grey.
Filter to abnormal cells only. Show only changed toggle hides everything that hasn't changed. Useful when most of the mouth is stable but a few spots regressed.
View the indexes side-by-side. Bottom card shows worst pocket, average pocket, BoP% for both exams. Trend arrow shows direction.
Print or PDF the comparison. Print button generates a clean two-column layout for the patient or insurance. The PDF is also archived under the patient's documents.
Expected outcome
- A clear visualisation of which sites improved and which worsened
- Numerical indexes show overall direction
- Print/PDF ready for share-out
Troubleshooting
| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Compare view empty | Only one exam exists | Need at least two exams |
| Same exam selected on both sides | Pick different versions | Ensure baseline and comparison are different exams |
| All cells red | Periodontitis worsening — clinical concern | Discuss treatment plan; export comparison for records |
| Print is blurry | Browser print settings | Use the PDF export instead |
| Differences look exaggerated | Different probing technique between visits | Note in clinical record; standardise probing across visits |