The document provides guidelines for using the Basic Periodontal Examination (BPE) screening tool to assess periodontal health. The BPE involves probing 6 sites around each tooth to measure pocket depth and assign a code for each tooth section. Codes indicate the level of care needed, from oral hygiene instruction (Code 0-1) to non-surgical treatment (Code 2-3) to referral for specialized treatment (Code 4). While not diagnostic, the BPE gives a minimum standard for initial assessment and indicates if further detailed examination is required. Practitioners should use clinical judgment and consider unique patient factors when interpreting BPE scores.