title: A comparison of dental ultrasonic technologies on subgingival calculus removal: a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This pilot study compared the clinical endpoints of the magnetostrictive and piezoelectric ultrasonic instruments on calculus removal. The null hypothesis stated that there is no statistically significant difference in calculus removal between the 2 instruments.
  
  
  METHODS
  A quasi-experimental pre- and post-test design was used. Eighteen participants were included. The magnetostrictive and piezoelectric ultrasonic instruments were used in 2 assigned contra-lateral quadrants on each participant. A data collector, blind  to treatment assignment, assessed the calculus on 6 predetermined tooth sites before and after ultrasonic instrumentation. Calculus size was evaluated using ordinal measurements on a 4 point scale (0, 1, 2, 3). Subjects were required to have size 2 or 3 calculus deposit on the 6 predetermined  sites. One clinician instrumented the pre-assigned quadrants. A maximum time of 20 minutes of instrumentation was allowed with each technology. Immediately after instrumentation, the data collector then conducted the post-test calculus evaluation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The repeated  analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to analyze the pre- and post-test calculus data (p≤0.05). The null hypothesis was accepted indicating that there is no statistically significant difference in calculus removal when comparing technologies (p≤0.05). Therefore, under similar  conditions, both technologies removed the same amount of calculus.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This research design could be used as a foundation for continued research in this field. Future studies include implementing this study design with a larger sample size and/or modifying the study design  to include multiple clinicians who are data collectors. Also, deposit removal with periodontal maintenance patients could be explored.
authors.affiliation: Fones School of Dental Hygiene, University of Bridgeport, USA.
authors.forename: Lidia Brión
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Kathleen O
authors.initials: KO
authors.lastname: Hodges
authors.forename: Kristin Hamman
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Calley
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Seikel
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003728:Dental Calculus / Q000145:classification / Q000628:therapy*; D003777:Dental Prophylaxis / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004560:Electricity; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013357:Subgingival Curettage / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D013674:Technology, Dental / Q000295:instrumentation; D013997:Time Factors; D014465:Ultrasonics / Q000145:classification / Q000295:instrumentation*; D014732:Vibration; D055815:Young Adult