Periodontal disease is a widespread condition ranging from simple gingival inflammation to severe periodontal breakdown. Early detection and diagnosis are key elements in the prevention of this oral pathology. Diagnostic aids available to dentists, such as the Periodontal Screening and Recording or PSR Index, accelerate the screening of periodontal conditions. While many studies provide support for the PSR Index as a valuable tool because it is reproducible, reliable, and quick, others have suggested that it may under or overestimate existing periodontal conditions. Some authors have suggested modifications to the recording method to improve its use either for screening purposes or for monitoring the outcome of periodontal therapy. This literature review briefly describes the PSR method, and compares studies based on both PSR and its counterpart, CPITN, in order to evaluate its usefulness and establish its limitations in a clinical setting.