Oral Hygiene Index (Greene and

Vermilion, 1960)
Oral Hygiene Index -
(Greene and Vermillion, 1960)

Guest editor: Kaban Moslehzadeh

The Oral Hygiene Index is composed of the combined Debris

Index and Calculus index, each of these index is in turn based on 12
numerical determinations representing the amount of debris or calculus found
on the buccal and lingual surfaces of each of three segments of each dental
arch, namely

1. The segment distal to the right cuspid (see picture).

2. The segment distal to the left cuspid.
3. The segment mesial to the right and left first bicuspids.

The Maxillary and the Mandibular arches are each composed of three

segments (these are illustrated above).

Each segment is examined for debris or calculus. From each segment one
tooth is used for calculating the individual index, for that particular segment.
The tooth used for the calculation must have the greatest area covered by
either debris or calculus.

The method for scoring calculus is the same as that applied to debris, but
additional provisions are made for recording subgingival deposits.

Criteria for classifying debris

 
 Score Criteria
s

0 No debris or stain present

1 Soft debris covering not more than one third of the tooth
surface, or presence of extrinsic stains without other debris
regardless of surface area covered

2 Soft debris covering more than one third, but not more than
two thirds, of the exposed tooth surface.

3 Soft debris covering more than two thirds of the exposed tooth
surface.

Criteria for classifying calculus

 

Score Criteria
s

0 No calculus present

1 Supragingival calculus covering not more than third of the exposed

tooth surface.

2 Supragingival calculus covering more than one third but not more
than two thirds of the exposed tooth surface or the presence of
individual flecks of subgingival calculus around the cervical portion
of the tooth or both.

3 Supragingival calculus covering more than two third of the

exposed tooth surface or a continuos heavy band of subgingival
calculus around the cervical portion of the tooth or both.
CALCULATION EXAMPLE:
After the scores for debris and calculus are recorded, the Index values are
calculated. For each individual, the debris scores are totaled and divided by
the number of segments scored.

The same method is used to obtain the calculus index scores.

The following example shows how to calculate the indices. The scores for
debris and calculus should be tabulated separately and indexes for each
calculated independently, but in the same manner.

Debris
  Right Anterior Left Total

  Bucca Lingua Labia Lingua Bucca Lingua Buccal/Labia Lingua

l l l l l l l l

Uppe 3 1 2 2 3 1 8 4
r

Lowe 2 2 1 1 1 2 4 5
r

Total 5 3 3 3 4 3 12 9

Debris Index = (The total of the upper and lower buccal-scores) + (The total
of the upper and lower lingual-scores) /(The number of segments scored).

Debris Index = (12+9) / 6= 3.5

Calculus
  Right Anterior Left Totals

  Bucca Lingua Labia Lingua Bucca Lingua Buccal/Labia Lingua

l l l l l l l l
 Uppe 1 0 0 0 1 0 2 0
r

Lowe 0 1 0 2 0 2 0 5
r

Total 1 1 0 2 1 2 2 5

Calculus Index = (The total of the upper and lower buccal-scores) + (The

total of the upper and lower lingual-scores) / (The number of segments
scored).

Calculus Index = (2+5) / 6= 1.16

The average individual or group debris and calculus scores are combined to
obtain Oral Hygiene Index, as follows.

Oral Hygiene Index = Debris Index + Calculus Index

3.5 + 1.16 = 4.66