Free clinical tool
BPE Calculator and Chart: sextant scores and BSP actions
The BPE (Basic Periodontal Examination) is a screen, not a diagnosis (BSP 2019). Record the six-sextant BPE to see what the BSP guidelines say for each code. For a code 3 or 4, staging and grading need radiographs: once you know the bone loss, this helper applies the 2017 World Workshop / BSP UK criteria — Stage (I–IV) from worst-site bone loss, and Grade (A–C) from the bone-loss-to-age ratio.
Criteria summary (reference)
Record a code (or –) for all six sextants to see the criteria summary.
Intended purpose: an educational reference that displays the published BSP / 2017 World Workshop classification criteria for a GDC-registered clinician to apply. It does not diagnose, stage, grade or recommend treatment for an individual patient and must not replace clinical judgement. It is not a medical device. Verify against current BSP/SDCEP guidance.
How BPE scoring works
The BPE divides the mouth into six sextants. A WHO BPE probe is walked around each tooth and the highest code in each sextant is recorded. The highest code across the whole mouth determines the next step.
| Code | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 0 | Healthy — no bleeding, no calculus / plaque-retentive factors, pockets < 3.5 mm (black band fully visible). |
| 1 | Bleeding on probing — no calculus / plaque-retentive factors, pockets < 3.5 mm. |
| 2 | Calculus or plaque-retentive factor present (e.g. overhang) — pockets still < 3.5 mm. |
| 3 | Probing depth 3.5–5.5 mm — black band partially visible (a pocket of 4–5 mm). Not a diagnosis on its own: radiographs and initial therapy, then a 6-point chart of that sextant; periodontitis only if pockets ≥ 4 mm remain or there is bone loss. |
| 4 | Probing depth > 5.5 mm — black band disappears (a pocket of 6 mm or more). Radiographs and a full periodontal assessment, with a 6-point chart of the entire dentition. |
| * | Furcation involvement — added to any code where the furcation of a multi-rooted tooth is detected. |
Codes 0–2 with no obvious interdental recession indicate no pocketing requiring staging — assess for gingivitis from the bleeding-on-probing percentage. Codes 3–4 prompt radiographs and a full periodontal assessment, then staging and grading under the 2017 World Workshop classification as implemented for the UK by the British Society of Periodontology. Interdental recession or treated periodontitis means full assessment whatever the code; in maintenance, a full-mouth 6-point chart at least annually (BSP 2019).
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<p style="font:12px/1.4 sans-serif;margin:4px 0 0"><a href="https://nosht.io/tools/bpe-calculator/">BPE calculator</a> by Nosht</p>Frequently asked questions
What is a BPE score?
The Basic Periodontal Examination (BPE) is a UK screening tool that divides the mouth into six sextants and records the highest code (0 to 4, plus * for furcation) in each. It is a quick screen that signals whether a more detailed periodontal assessment — including staging and grading — is needed.
What does BPE code 3 mean?
BPE code 3 indicates a probing depth of 3.5 to 5.5 mm, where the black band of the WHO probe is partially visible (a pocket of 4–5 mm). On its own it is not a diagnosis: BSP advises radiographs and initial therapy, then a 6-point pocket chart of that sextant at review. The case goes on to periodontitis staging and grading only if pockets of 4 mm or more remain or there is radiographic bone loss.
What does BPE code 4 mean?
BPE code 4 indicates a probing depth greater than 5.5 mm, where the black band of the probe disappears into the pocket. It signals advanced periodontal breakdown and the need for comprehensive periodontal assessment, staging and grading.
How does BPE relate to periodontal staging and grading?
BPE is a screen, not a diagnosis. A BPE of 3 or 4 triggers a full assessment under the 2017 World Workshop / BSP UK classification. Stage (I to IV) reflects severity and complexity from interdental attachment loss and bone loss; grade (A to C) reflects the rate of progression, estimated from the bone-loss-to-age ratio and risk factors.
Which guidelines does this calculator reference?
The interpretation follows the 2017 World Workshop classification (Caton et al. 2018; Tonetti et al. 2018) as implemented for the UK by the British Society of Periodontology (BSP) Implementation Guide, with treatment framing aligned to the EFP S3 guidelines and SDCEP periodontal guidance.
Is this BPE calculator a substitute for clinical diagnosis?
No. This tool is an educational reference that organises established classification thresholds. It does not replace a full clinical examination, radiographic assessment, professional judgement, or current BSP and SDCEP guidance. Always confirm any interpretation against the source guidelines.
References
- BSP — Implementing the 2017 Classification (flowchart, 2018)
- BSP — Basic Periodontal Examination (BPE) guidelines (2019)
- SDCEP — Prevention and Treatment of Periodontal Diseases
- Caton JG et al. — A new classification scheme (J Periodontol 2018)
- Tonetti MS et al. — Staging and grading (J Clin Periodontol 2018)
- West N et al. — BSP UK S3 treatment guideline, Stages I–III (J Dent 2021)
- Kebschull M et al. — UK implementation of the EFP S3 Stage IV guideline (J Dent 2025)
Write the perio note in seconds
Nosht turns this classification into a periodontal note structured to current BSP guidance — one click to copy into any practice management system. No patient identifiers in clinical notes (referral letters and leaflet sending excepted); no audio captured.
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Built by Nosht, a UK dental notes app for GDC-registered clinicians.