COMPARATIVE-ANALYSIS BETWEEN A MODIFIED ULTRASONIC TIP AND HAND INSTRUMENTS ON CLINICAL-PARAMETERS OF PERIODONTAL-DISEASE

THE GOAL OF THIS STUDY was to determine whether an ultrasonic scaler w ith a modified tip is as effective as a curet in providing supportive periodontal treatment for patients, based on clinical parameters of pe riodontal disease. Nine patients with 10 sites exhibiting probing pock et depth greater-than-or-equal-to 3 mm were treated at 0, 90, and 180 days in a single-blind, split-mouth design for supportive periodontal treatment with either Gracey curets (GC) or an ultrasonic scaler with a modified tip (MU). Clinical parameters included plaque index, gingiv al index, bleeding on probing, darkfield microscopy, and elastase pres ence. Probing pocket depths and attachment levels were measured using an electronic probe. Measurements of clinical parameters were taken at 0, 14, 45, 90, 135, and 180 days. The results showed that treatment w ith MU was as effective as treatment with GC in all clinical parameter s measured. Both treatment modalities were effective in reducing the e lastase levels. Instrumentation time was significantly reduced with th e MU (3.9 minutes vs. 5.9 minutes, P < 0.05). The MU instrument effect ively reduced the microbial environment in a significantly shorter tim e as compared to GC.