PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the incidence of curet fracture and its contributing factors. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifty-eight periodontal curets which were broken during periodontal treatment in Kangnung National University Dental Hospital for 1 year were used as study materials. The blade thickness of new curets and broken ones was measured using a digital micrometer. Types of treatment procedures, clinical experience of operators, point of breakage, and method of removal of broken fragments were recorded for each broken curet. RESULTS: The incidence of curet fracture in root planing (16.4 curets per 1,000 procedures) was higher than those in flap surgery (7.5) or supragingival scaling (2.7). No curet was broken during supportive periodontal treatment. The incidence of fracture did not seem to be related with clinical experience of operators. The most frequent breakage point of the curets were upper 1/3 of blades. Fifty-six of 58 broken fragments were removed by non-surgical methods. Two broken tips which could not removed non-surgically were left in the pockets, and proved to be removed spontaneously 1 week later. CONCLUSION: Root planing showed higher incidence of curet fracture than any other type of periodontal treatment. Most of the fractured fragments were removed by non-surgical method. Further study is needed to develop methods of removal of the fragments which can not be removed non-surgically.
Dental Scaling ; Incidence ; Root Planing

No abstract available.
Acoustics ; Dental Scaling ; Noise ; Respiration ; Respiratory Rate

PURPOSE: The effects of magnetostrictive and piezoelectric devices on tooth surfaces seem to differ with regard to the root surface roughness they produce. This study aimed to compare the results of scaling using magnetostrictive and piezoelectric devices on extracted teeth. METHODS: Forty-four human extracted teeth were assigned to four study groups (n=11). In two groups (C100 and C200), the teeth were scaled using a magnetostrictive device and two different lateral forces: 100 g and 200 g, respectively. In the other two groups (P100 and P200), the teeth were scaled with a piezoelectric device with 100 g and 200 g of lateral force, respectively. he teeth were scaled and the data on the duration of scaling and the amount of surface were collected and analyzed using the t-test. RESULTS: The mean time needed for instrumentation for the piezoelectric and magnetostrictive devices was 50:54 and 41:10, respectively, but their difference was not statistically significant (P=0.171). For root surface roughness, we only found a statistically significantly poorer result for the C200 group in comparison to the P200 group (P=0.033). CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed that applying a piezoelectric scaler with 200 g of lateral force leaves smoother surfaces than a magnetostrictive device with the same lateral force.
Dental Calculus ; Dental Scaling ; Humans ; Tooth ; Tooth Extraction ; Ultrasonics

OBJECTIVES: To compare the treatment effects of periodontal endoscope-assisted and traditional subgingival scaling on residual pockets. METHODS: A total of 13 patients with periodontitis from Dept. of Periodontics, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University were recruited. After 4-6 weeks of initial treatment, the residual pockets with a probing depth (PD) of ≥4 mm and attachment loss (AL) of ≥4 mm and bleeding on probing were examined with traditional (control group) and periodontal endoscope-assisted subgingival scaling (endoscopy group) in a randomly controlled split-mouth design. At baseline and 6 weeks and 3 months after treatment, plaque index (PLI), PD, AL, and bleeding index (BI) were measured. Differences in these clinical parameters within and between groups and patient-reported outcomes were compared. RESULTS: A total of the 694 sites of 251 teeth were included in this trial. Both groups showed significant improvement in each periodontal parameters 6 weeks and 3 months after treatment ( CONCLUSIONS Periodontal endoscope-assisted subgingival scaling resulted in better effects than traditional subgingival scaling when the residual pockets were in a single-rooted tooth, with a PD of ≥5 mm but without vertical alveolar bone resorption and furcation involvement.
Dental Plaque Index ; Dental Scaling ; Endoscopes ; Humans ; Periodontitis/therapy*

Removal of subgingival calculus is essential for the success in periodontal treatment. Subgingival instrumentation is used for the removal of all bacterial plaque and calculus. In this study, two types of anterior curet were used on ant. teeth to conduct subgingival scaling and root planing. The remaining amount of calculus was evaluated according to type of instrument, depth of pocket, and tooth surface. 24 teeth extracted from patients being treated at Dan Kook University dept. Perio. were used. 4 surfaces per tooth a total of 96 areas were evaluated. 12 teeth treated with Gracey No. 1-2 was used as the control group and 12 teeth treated with Mini-five curet No. 1-2 was the experimental group. The 4 surfaces of the teeth(buccal, mesial, lingual or palatal, distal) were observed under a stereomicroscope and the images were captured 3 times per surfaced with a CCD. The image were observed on the monitor using a 10 x 10 grid produced with the Microsoft power point. The amount of calculus remaining was evaluated 3 times per surface. The results were as follows. 1. There was no significant difference in remaining calculus according to the pre-treatment pocket depth, and tooth position(Mx. or Mn.). 2. The Mini-five curet showed better results than the Gracey curet but there was no statistically significant difference. 3. In both Gracey curet group and Mini-five curet group the lingual(or palatal) surface showed significant difference compared to the other surfaces(p < 0.05). From the results above, it is thought that when treating ant. teeth consideration of the tooth surface is more important than the choice of instrument.
Ants ; Calculi ; Dental Scaling* ; Humans ; Root Planing* ; Tooth

Removal of subgingival calculus is essential for the success in periodontal treatment. Subgingival instrumentation is used for the removal of all bacterial plaque and calculus. In this study, Gracey curet and Ultrasonic curet were used on single rooted teeth to conduct subgingival scaling and root planning. The remaining amount of calculus was evaluated according to type of instrument, depth of pocket, and tooth surface. 24 teeth were extracted from 14 patients being treated at department Periodontology Seoul Advantist dental hospital were used. Total 96 area(4 surface per teeth) were evaluated. 12 teeth treated with Gracey curet were used as the control group and the other 12 teeth treated with Ultrasonic curet were examined for experimental group. The 4 surfaces of the teeth(buccal, mesial, lingual or palatal, distal) were observed through the stereomicroscope and the images of the surface were captured and saved in CCD. The images were displayed on the monitor and the amount of calculus remained was evaluated by overlapping 10x10 grid pixel screen produced by Microsoft power point. The results evaluated were as follows 1. There was no statistically significant difference in residual calculus and tooth position following scaling and root planning of all group, but statistically significant correlation with residual calculus, probing depth, instruments and tooth surface. 2. There was statistically significant correlation between residual calculus and probing depth, but no statistically significant difference in residual calculus, tooth surface and tooth position on experimental(Ultrasonic curet) group. 3. There was no statistically significant difference in residual calculus according to the pre-treatment pocket depth and tooth position, but statistically significant correlation with tooth surface. The amount of residual calculus increase with mesial, distal, buccal and lingual(or palatal) surface on control(Gracey curet) group. 4. The Gracey curet showed better results than ultrasonic curet in mesial and distal surface, and there is significant difference. The results demonstrate that ultrasonic curet alone is inadequate for thorough subgingival debridement and suggest that Ultrasonic curet with Gracey curet should be more effective.
Calculi ; Debridement ; Dental Scaling* ; Humans ; Seoul ; Tooth ; Ultrasonics*

This study presents an evaluation of the effectiveness of nonsurgical subgingival scaling and root planing related to initial pocket depth, type of teeth, and individual root surfaces. A total of 110 teeth designated for periodontal surgery in 67 patients with marginal periodontitis were selected and received thorough scaling and root planing with standard rigid Gracey curettes. After a healing period of 4 to 8 weeks, residual calculus was assessed at the time of periodontal surgery following the reflection of mucoperiosteal flap. The results demonstrated a high correlation between the percentage of residual calculus and initial pocket depth. It was further noted that tooth type and involved root surface also influenced the rate of calculus remnant. The results of this study suggest that complete removal of subgingival calculus utilizing conventional instrumentation via closed approach is rare.
Calculi* ; Dental Scaling* ; Humans ; Periodontitis ; Root Planing* ; Tooth

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical effects of ultrasonic subgingival debridement and ultrasonic subgingival debridement combined with manual root planing on severe periodontitis and then to investigate the necessity and significance of manual root planing. METHODS: Twenty-three patients with severe periodontitis participated in this split-mouth randomized-controlled clinical trial. Baseline examination and randomization were performed after supragingival scaling: each of the upper and lower jaws had a quadrant as the test group treated with ultrasonic subgingival debridement combined with manual root planing, whereas the other two quadrants were the control group treated with ultrasonic subgingival debridement. Treatment of each patient was at intervals of one week and completed in two visits. Clinical indicators concerning probing depth (PD), clinical attachment loss (CAL) and bleeding index (BI) were recorded at baseline and 1 month, 3 months, 6 months after treatment. RESULTS: There was no significant difference of periodontal indicators between the test group and the control group at baseline. Both the test group and control group resulted in significant improvement of PD, CAL and BI. One and three months after treatment, reduction of PD in the test group was higher than that in the control group [1 month: (2.13±1.31) mm vs. (1.79±1.33) mm, P<0.01; 3 months: (2.46±1.33) mm vs. (2.17±1.38) mm, P<0.01] and reduction of CAL in the test group was higher than that in the control group [1 month: (1.89±2.03) mm vs. (1.65±1.93) mm, P<0.01; 3 months: (2.03±2.05) mm vs. (1.83±1.97) mm, P<0.05]. Six months after treatment, PD in the test group and the control group decreased by (2.52±1.40) mm and (2.35±1.37) mm respectively, and the improvement in the test group was significantly better than that in the control group (P<0.01). CAL in the test group and the control group decreased by (1.89±2.14) mm and (1.77±2.00) mm respectively, and there was no statistical difference between the groups. There was no significant difference in the changes of BI between the two groups 1, 3 and 6 months after treatment. CONCLUSION Ultrasonic subgingival debridement combined with manual root planing has more reduction in PD and CAL compared with ultrasonic subgingival debridement. Therefore, it is still necessary to use manual instruments for root planing following ultrasonic subgingival debridement.
Debridement ; Dental Scaling ; Humans ; Periodontitis ; Root Planing ; Treatment Outcome ; Ultrasonics

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate current issues and areas for improvement in the Korean Dental Hygienist National Licensing Examination (KDHNLE) through an expert Delphi survey. METHODS: A Delphi survey was conducted from May through August 2016 in Korea. This Delphi survey included 20 persons representing the field of dental hygiene (7 groups from various dental hygiene-related organizations). The Delphi survey was administered through e-mail as 3 rounds of questionnaire surveys regarding the issues facing the KDHNLE and potential solutions to those challenges. The primary Delphi survey was an open questionnaire. In each round, subjects' responses were categorized according to the detailed themes of their responses. The minimum value of the content validity ratio of the survey results was determined by the number of panels participating in the Delphi survey. RESULTS: Issues facing the KDHNLE were identified from the results of the Delphi survey. The following 4 items had an average importance score of 4.0 or higher and were considered as important by over 85% of the panels: the failure of the practical test to reflect actual clinical settings, the focus of the practical test on dental scaling, the gap between the items evaluated on the national examination and actual practical work, and insufficiency in strengthening the expertise of licensed dental hygienists. The following items were suggested for improvement: more rigorous rater training, adjustment of the difficulty of the licensing examination, the introduction of a specialized dental hygienist system, and more rigorous refresher training for licensed dental hygienists. CONCLUSION: Based on the above results, the KDHNLE should be improved according to the core competencies of dental hygienists, including on-site clinical practice experience.
Dental Health Surveys ; Dental Hygienists* ; Dental Scaling ; Electronic Mail ; Humans ; Korea ; Licensure* ; Oral Hygiene ; Republic of Korea

The purpose of this study was to observe the effects of periodontal therapy, including nonsurgical periodontal therapy with azithromycin, surgical therapy, and maintenace therapy on the drug-induced gingival enlargement, by means of measuring gingival thickness. The test group of 18 patients with drug-induced gingival enlargement received scaling, root planing with azithromycin for 5 days, with or without surgical periodontal treatment. The control group of 18 patients who had not taken any medication, received scaling and root planing, with or without surgical periodontal treatment. Both groups received supportive periodontal therapy every 3 months for 2 years. The mean period of total treatment is 32 months in the test group and 31 months in the control group. The thickness of the buccal gingiva was measured using an ultrasonic device of SDM(R)(Krupp Corp., Essen, Germany). The results revealed that the test group(1.21+/-0.51mm) showed statistically thicker buccal gingiva than the control group(1.01+/-0.3mm). In the test group, the buccal gingiva was thickest on 2nd molars and was thinnest on canines of both dental arches. In the control group, the buccal gingiva was thickest on central incisors in the maxilla and 2nd molars in the mandible, while the thinnest areas were on canines in the maxilla and 1st premolars in the mandible. It would be concluded that the periodontal treatment with azithromycin aids in decreasing the degree of the gingival enlargement but cannot prevent the recurrence completely.
Azithromycin ; Bicuspid ; Dental Arch ; Dental Scaling ; Gingiva ; Humans ; Incisor ; Mandible ; Maxilla ; Molar ; Recurrence ; Root Planing ; Ultrasonics