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UNC-15 probe
Also called: University of North Carolina probe, UNC 15
A 15 mm periodontal probe marked at every millimeter, with bold bands at 5, 10, 15.
The UNC-15 (named for the University of North Carolina) is a long probe marked at every millimeter from 1 to 15. Darker bands at 5, 10 and 15 mm make it easy to read deep pockets. Many offices use it for full periodontal charting.
How to spot it
- Fifteen small marks, one per millimeter, with wider dark bands at 5, 10 and 15 mm.
- Longer marked area than a Williams probe, which stops at 10 mm.
What it is used for
- Full-mouth periodontal charting, especially when pockets are deep.
- Measuring recession (how far the gum has pulled back) and the width of attached gum.
Safety and care
- Critical item (it goes into soft tissue or touches bone): clean it, package it and heat-sterilize it after every patient.
Related
Sources: Ergodenta. Periodontal Probes Guide: UNC-15, Williams, WHO, Naber's & CPITN. ; UNC-15 product listing, Gehrig JS, Shin DE. Fundamentals of Periodontal Instrumentation and Advanced Root Instrumentation, 9th ed. Jones & Bartlett, 2023 (plus Newman & Carranza's Clinical Periodontology)