Which item is used in the Eastman Interdental Bleeding Index procedure?

Which item is used in the Eastman Interdental Bleeding Index procedure?

• A. Wooden interdental cleaner
• B. Unwaxed floss
• C. Cotton swab
• D. Probing instrument

Answer: (A)

The Eastman Interdental Bleeding Index uses a standardized wooden interdental cleaner to gently stimulate the interdental gingiva. In the procedure, this wooden cleaner is inserted into the space between adjacent teeth and rotated briefly to provoke a controlled amount of bleeding if inflammation is present. Bleeding is then observed within a short window after removal. The wooden cleaner’s consistent shape and stiffness provide reproducible stimulation across patients and examiners, which is essential for an index like this. Unwaxed floss wouldn’t deliver a standardized interproximal stimulus, a cotton swab is too soft and lacks the proper reach to engage the interdental papilla, and a probing instrument is meant for measuring pocket depths rather than provoking the controlled stimulation needed to assess bleeding.

The Eastman Interdental Bleeding Index uses a standardized wooden interdental cleaner to gently stimulate the interdental gingiva. In the procedure, this wooden cleaner is inserted into the space between adjacent teeth and rotated briefly to provoke a controlled amount of bleeding if inflammation is present. Bleeding is then observed within a short window after removal. The wooden cleaner’s consistent shape and stiffness provide reproducible stimulation across patients and examiners, which is essential for an index like this. Unwaxed floss wouldn’t deliver a standardized interproximal stimulus, a cotton swab is too soft and lacks the proper reach to engage the interdental papilla, and a probing instrument is meant for measuring pocket depths rather than provoking the controlled stimulation needed to assess bleeding.