The apical location of calculus within the intrabony defect

Subgingival scaling and root planing during minimally invasive periodontal surgery: A randomized controlled split-mouth trial

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this randomized, controlled split-mouth study was to evaluate a videoscope as a visual adjunct to scaling and root planing when utilized in combination with minimally invasive surgery.

METHODS

Twenty-five pairs (89 interproximal surfaces) of periodontally hopeless teeth planned for extraction were scaled and root planed with minimal surgical access using surgical loupes (control) or adjunctive use of a videoscope (test). Teeth were extracted with minimal trauma, stained with methylene blue, and photographed with a digital microscope for analysis. The primary outcome of residual calculus was calculated as a percentage of the total interproximal area of interest. Secondary outcomes included treatment time, as well as residual calculus according to probing depth, tooth location, and treatment date. Data were analyzed using Student's paired t-tests, two-way analyses of variance, and Spearman's correlation tests.

RESULTS

Residual calculus area was 2.61% on control and 2.71% on test surfaces with no significant difference between groups. Subgroup analysis showed no difference in residual calculus between groups at moderate or deep sites. Treatment time per surface was significantly longer in the test group compared to the control group. Treatment order, tooth location, and operator experience did not significantly affect the primary outcome.

CONCLUSIONS

Though the videoscope provided excellent visual access, it did not improve the efficacy of root planing for flat interproximal surfaces during minimally invasive periodontal surgery. Small amounts of calculus remain after instrumentation even with minimal surgical access and when root surfaces appear visually clean and tactilely smooth.

Impact of a two-stage subgingival instrumentation schemeinvolvingair-polishingon attachment gain after activeperiodontal therapy

BACKGROUND

To evaluate whether clinical attachment levelgain (ΔCAL) in deepuntreated periodontal lesionsmay be improved by a two-stage, subgingival instrumentation schemeinvolving air-polishing.

METHODS

This 6-month, randomized, controlled, examiner-blinded clinical trial was performed in 44 periodontitis patients with untreated periodontal lesions ≥ 6 mm. At baseline, day 28, 84, and 168 clinical attachment level (CAL), probing pocket depth (PPD), bleeding on probing (BoP) and plaque control record (PlaCR) were recorded. After baseline examination control grouppatients received full-mouth sub- and supragingival instrumentation using scalers and curettes. In the test group initial subgingival cleaningwas limited to the removal of soft bacterial deposits by air-polishing. Subgingival scaling and root planing was performed only after the first reevaluation at day 28.

RESULTS

In deep lesions ≥ 6 mm a significant reduction of mean CAL scores was observed at day 28 and at day 168 for both experimental groups. Differences between the groupshowever did not reach the level of significance. Mean PPD was also significantly reduced at day 28 and at 168 in both experimental groups, with no significant differences between the groups. Mean BoP scores did not change significantly in both groups during the 168-day observation period. Only in the test group mean PlaCR scores were significantly reduced at day 168 compared to baseline.

CONCLUSIONS

Subgingival instrumentation of untreated periodontal pockets ≥ 6 mm by air-polishing alone resultsin a significant short-term gain of CAL comparable to conventional scaling and root planing. Its sequential two-step combination with scaling and root planinghowever does not additionally enhancelong-termgain of CAL. (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03098498).

ONE-SENTENCE SUMMARY

A two-step combination of air-polishing and scaling and root planing does not improve attachment gain in untreated deep periodontal lesions. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Accuracy of dental calculus detection using digital radiography and image manipulation

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to determine if image enhancement improves a clinician's ability to identify the presence of calculus on digital radiographs.

METHODS

Seventy-one hopeless teeth were collected from 34 patients. Teeth were stained with 1% methylene blue, the largest interproximal calculus deposit was scored, and photographs of each interproximal root surface were taken. The surface area of calculus deposit was determined as a percentage of the total interproximal root surface area. Digital radiographs of teeth taken before extraction were modified using the following enhancements: auto-contrast, emboss, invert, and sharpen. Radiographic presence of calculus was determined by two examiners. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) were calculated for each examiner and enhancement. A receiver operating characteristic curve was used to compare differences between the image enhancements in the detection of dental calculus. The kappa statistic was used to compare ratings between examiners.

RESULTS

None of the enhanced images were statistically superior to original images in identifying radiographic calculus (P > 0.05). The average sensitivity of digital radiography was 50%, average specificity was 82.2%, PPV was 94%, and NPV 23.2%. A threshold of >30% of interproximal root surface covered with calculus and increasing size of deposits were associated with improved detection (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Digital enhancements do not significantly improve radiographic detection of dental calculus. As area of calculus on the root surface and size of calculus deposits increased, sensitivity of detection also increased.

Scaling and root planing vs. conservative surgery in the treatment of chronic periodontitis

A renewed interest in conservative surgical techniques has been fueled by new technology, changes in referral patterns to periodontists and a desire to achieve periodontal health in the least invasive, most cost-efficient manner possible. Trends suggest that an increasing amount of periodontal care is being provided in the offices of general dentists. If true, it is likely that patients receiving care in these offices will be offered simpler surgical treatment modalities that do not require an extensive armamentarium. The purpose of this article was to review the effectiveness of six relatively simple surgical techniques - gingivectomy, flap debridement, modified Widman flap, excisional new attachment procedure, modified excisional new attachment procedure and laser-assisted new attachment procedure - and to compare the results obtained using these procedures with the well-known clinical benefits of scaling and root planing. The intent was to determine whether the benefits of surgical procedures in the hands of most general dentists extend beyond those of conventional nonsurgical therapy.

The hard tissue lesion revisited

Recent research indicates that the thorough removal of calculus is still a critical step in the treatment of periodontal disease. Surgical access facilitates this in deep pockets. Repair is mediated by a long junctional epithelium as microscopically total calculus removal is rarely achieved. In intrabony defects the apical portion of the root surface which has not attracted deposits of calculus has the potential for connective tissue reattachment and regeneration if care is taken to preserve collagen fibres still attached to the root.