Technical assessment of WHO-621 periodontal probe made in Brazil.

This study technically assessed the WHO-621 periodontal probe made in Brazil as well as its dimensional and weight stability after sterilization. The following characteristics were measured in one hundred (100) new probes: diameter and linear area of tip sphere and beginning and ending references of its colored band by means of indirect computerized morphometric method, and weight, by means of a digital balance within 0.01 mm precision. Fifty (50) probes underwent one hundred (100) cycles of either steam or heat sterilization. The WHO-621 Trinity probe showed mean values of 0.66 mm in its longitudinal and 0.54 mm in its transversal sphere diameters; 0.40 mm2 in its sphere linear area; 3.56 mm and 5.76 mm for the beginning and ending of the colored band, respectively. Its mean weight was 10.12 g with small variation. Some of the measurements showed significant changes after both sterilization procedures. Neither of the sterilization methods showed to be more advantageous (Student's t-test, p = 0.05).