Periodontitis — ORE Part 1 MCQ

Correct answer: C — Stable periodontitis

The correct answer is **A. Stable periodontitis**. SDCEP defines stability in a patient with periodontitis as bleeding on probing at fewer than 10% of sites, probing pocket depths of 4 mm or less, and no bleeding at 4 mm sites. Importantly, a patient previously diagnosed with periodontitis remains a periodontitis patient even when treatment has achieved clinical stability. **D** is incorrect because remission requires bleeding on probing above 10% with shallow, non-bleeding 4 mm pockets. **C** is excluded by bleeding below 10%. **B** is wrong because prior periodontitis means the periodontium is not intact. **E** is a recognised description of gingival health in some classification contexts, but it is not the current disease-status diagnosis sought here; UK SDCEP guidance classifies this treated periodontitis patient as stable.

Reference: Scottish Dental Clinical Effectiveness Programme. Prevention and Treatment of Periodontal Diseases in Primary Care, “Periodontitis” section, current. https://periodontalcare.sdcep.org.uk/guidance/diagnosis/establishing-a-periodontal-diagnosis/periodontitis/