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

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

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

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

PURPOSE: The concept of gingival biotype has been used as a predictor of periodontal therapy outcomes since the 1980s. In the present study, prospective and controlled experiments were performed to compare periodontal pocket depth (PPD) reduction and gingival shrinkage (GSH) after scaling and root planing (SRP) according to gingival biotype. METHODS: Twenty-five patients diagnosed with chronic periodontitis participated in the present study. The PPD and GSH of the labial side of the maxillary anterior teeth (from the right canine to the left canine) were evaluated at baseline and 3 months after SRP. Changes in the PPD following SRP were classified into 4 groups according to the gingival thickness and initial PPD. Two more groups representing normal gingival crevices were added in evaluation of the GSH. The results were statistically analyzed using the independent t-test. RESULTS: In the end, 16 patients participated in the present study. With regard to PPD reduction, there were no significant differences according to gingival biotype (P>0.05). Likewise, sites with a PPD of over 3 mm failed to show any significant differences in the GSH (P>0.05). However, among the sites with a PPD of under 3 mm, those with the thin gingival biotype showed more GSH (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: PPD changes after SRP were not affected by gingival biotype with either shallow or deep periodontal pockets. GSH also showed equal outcomes in all the groups without normal gingival crevices. The results of SRP seem not to differ according to gingival biotype.
Chronic Periodontitis ; Dental Scaling ; Humans ; Periodontal Pocket ; Prospective Studies ; Root Planing* ; Tooth

This study was undertake to assess the effect of 30% minocycline containing polycaprolactone strip to adult periodontitis patient with respect to utility as a monotherapy, effectiveness of this drug device compared to scaling and root planning, and their ability to enhance scaling and root planning. 48 teeth of 12 adult patients who had at least one teeth qualifying pocket> or =4mm at each quadrant were enrolled in this study by split mouth design. All patients received supragingival scaling and oral hygiene instruction 2 weeks prior to the study. At baseline(time 0), enrolled tooth at each quadrant randomly assigned following one of 4 treatment modalities: root planing only(RP); root planing and placement of minocycline strip into pocket for a week(RP+MC); placement of minocycline strip into pocket for a week with out root planing(MC); 2 consecutive placement of minocycline strip into pocket for 2 weeks by one week(MCx2). Each teeth was evaluated at baseline and months 1, 3 and 6. Clinical indices included plaque index, bleeding on probing, probing pocket depth and clinical attachment level. Among 4 groups, RP+MC group showed the lowest percent site of bleeding on probing at 1, 3 and 6 months. Compared to baseline, all group showed significant reduction of pocket depth at 1, 3 and 6 months. The average pocket depth reduction in RP+MC sites was significantly greater than in the sites receiving RP, MC, and MCx2 at 3 months and in sites receiving MC and MCx2 at 6 months. The reduction in clinical attachment at the sites receiving RP+MC was significantly greater than in the sites receiving RP, MC, and MCx2 at 3 months. Between MC and MCx2 groups, no statistically significances was shown in reduction of pocket depth and clinical attachment level at all period examined. This result suggest that the use of 30% minocycline containing strip may improve periodontal health and may be an effective adjunct to conventional nonsurgical therapy in the treatment of adult periodontitis.
Adult ; Chronic Periodontitis ; Dental Scaling ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Minocycline ; Mouth ; Oral Hygiene ; Root Planing ; Tooth

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of clinical therapy of using six flavor glutinous rehmannis pill on chronic adult periodontal inflammation.

METHODS120 adult patients who have been cured for their periodontitis were selected and divided into two groups randomly. Control group was only treated with SRP (scaling and root planning), and test group was requested to take six flavor glutinous rehmannis pills orally for 5 months after SRP.

RESULTSAfter taking the medicine for 5 months, RPD (reduction in probing depth) was 0.43 mm, GAL (gain in attachment level) was 0.22 mm and was quite different from the control group (P < 0.01) .

CONCLUSIONSRP together with six flavor glutinous rehmannis pill is better than pure SRP in RPD and GAL, it is one kind of taking medicine for improving resistibility and maintenance therapy.

PURPOSE: This study was undertaken to evaluate the clinical and microbiological effects of an erythritol powder air-polishing device (EPAP) as a supplement to scaling and root planing (SRP) therapy in patients with moderate chronic periodontitis. METHODS: Clinical and microbiological evaluations were performed at 21 sites treated with SRP (control) and 21 sites treated with SRP+EPAP (test). All examinations were performed before treatment, 1 month after treatment, and 3 months after treatment. RESULTS: There were no significant clinical differences between the test group and the control group. Microbiological analysis revealed that the relative expression level of Porphyromonas gingivalis was significantly lower in the test group than in the control group at 1 month after treatment. Clinical and microbiological results showed improvements at 1 month compared to baseline; in contrast, the results at 3 months after treatment were worse than those at 1 month after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, both SRP and SRP+EPAP were clinically and microbiologically effective as non-surgical periodontal treatments. In particular, the SRP+EPAP group showed an antimicrobial effect on P. gingivalis, a keystone bacterium associated with the onset of chronic periodontitis, in a short-term period. Periodic periodontal therapy, at intervals of at least every 3 months, is important for sustaining the microbiological effects of this treatment.
Chronic Periodontitis ; Dental Scaling ; Erythritol ; Humans ; Periodontitis ; Porphyromonas gingivalis ; Root Planing

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of ultrasound subgingival scaling combined with manual root planing for treatment of chronic periodontitis in elderly patients. METHODS: Forty elderly patients with chronic periodontitis were randomly divided into test group for treatment with ultrasound and Gracey subgingival curette for subgingival scaling combined with manual root planing and control group treated with ultrasound subgingival curette scaling (=20). We compared plaque index (PLI), bleeding index (BI), probing depth (PD), and attachment loss (AL) between the two groups before and at 6 weeks and 12 weeks after the treatment. RESULTS: After periodontal treatment, PLI, BI, PD and AL all decreased significantly in both groups compared with the levels before the treatment ( < 0.05). The patients in the test group showed significantly more obvious decrease of PD and AL than those in the control group ( < 0.05), but the reduction of PLI and BI was comparable between the two groups (>0.05). CONCLUSIONS Ultrasound subgingival scaling combined with manual root planing produces better therapeutic effect than ultrasonic subgingival scaling alone for treatment of chronic periodontitis in elderly patients.
Aged ; Chronic Periodontitis ; therapy ; Dental Scaling ; Humans ; Root Planing ; Treatment Outcome ; Ultrasonography