EFFICACY OF TWO PIEZOELECTRIC ULTRASONIC SCALERS WITH HAND INSTRUMENTATION: A PROFILOMETRIC AND SEM STUDY
Background: The goal of the present study was to compare the efficacy of two piezoelectric scalers with hand instrumentation in calculus removal, loss of tooth substance and roughness created on root surface. Methods: 90 freshly extracted non-carious, non-restored single rooted teeth with hopeless periodontal prognosis were included in the study. They were divided into three groups of 30 teeth each i.e. Group 1,Group 2 and Group 3 where instrumentation was done using two piezoelectric scalers- Piezoelectric scaler A & Piezoelectric scaler B and Gracey curette respectively. Specimens were subjected to Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) & Profilometric analysis to evaluate the root surface roughness created by these three instruments. Results: Statistically significant difference was observed in Remaining calculus index (RCI) in the three experimental groups with hand instrument being least effective in removing calculus when compared to the piezoelectric scalers(p≤0.05). There was significant difference in mean Loss of tooth substance index(LTSI) and Roughness loss of tooth substance index (RLTSI) scores when compared in the three groups (p value =0.002). Both SEM and profilometric analysis showed that Piezoelectric scaler A and Piezoelectric scaler B caused less root surface roughness compared to hand instruments. Conclusion: The findings of the present study suggest that scaling and root planing using both piezoelectric scalers and hand instruments were effective in mechanical debridement of the root surface. However, piezoelectric instruments gave smoother root surface than hand instruments and were also more efficient in calculus removal. Key words: Dental scaling, Root planing, Ultrasonics, Scanning Electron Microscopy, Dental calculus