Comparative in vitro study of root roughness after instrumentation with ultrasonic and diamond tip sonic scaler.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the root surface roughness after instrumentation with hand curette and diamond-coated sonic and universal ultrasonic tips.


METHODS
Forty root surfaces of human teeth were randomly assigned to four treatment groups: control group (without instrumentation), curette instrumentation, ultrasonic instrumentation with universal tip and sonic instrumentation with diamond-coated tip. Each sample was instrumented with fifteen strokes. Before and after instrumentation, surface roughness was measured. In addition, the root surface topography was examined after treatment under the scanning electron microscope.


RESULTS
Significant statistical differences (p <0.05) were observed when comparing the control group (0.48+/-0.07mm) to the treated groups (hand - 1.246+/-0.279mm, ultrasonic - 1.468+/-0.177mm and sonic instrumentation - 1.576+/-0.20mm). The highest roughness was produced by diamond-coated sonic tip and by ultrasonic universal tip (p >0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The diamond-coated tip with sonic scaler instrumentation and ultrasonic instrumentation produce similar root surface roughness, higher than curette instrumentation.
Ribeiro
Fernanda Vieira
FV
Department of Prosthodontics and Periodontics, Division of Periodontics, Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas - UNICAMP.
Casarin
Renato Correa Viana
RC
Nociti Júnior
Francisco Humberto
FH
Sallum
Enilson Antônio
EA
Sallum
Antonio Wilson
AW
Casati
Márcio Zaffalon
MZ