Root debridement of single-rooted teeth with a diamond-coated sonic scalerinsert during flap surgery - A pilot study

In our laboratory, we modified inserts of a sonic scaler to increase effect ivity of root surface instrumentation during flap surgery. The present clin ical study investigates whether use of this diamond-coated, thickened inser t facilitates more rapid root debridement compared to hand instruments and whether clinical wound healing is influenced by the type of instrument used . In 13 patients with moderate to advanced periodontal destructions, flap s urgery was carried out on single rooted teeth with probing depth of greater than or equal to 6 mm. The mean amount of time saved by root debridement w ith the diamond-coated insert was 60% over curets. Regardless of the used i nstrumentation method probing depths and attachment level changes were alte red and remained unchanged for 2 years after surgery. In conclusion the new ly-developed, diamond-coated sonic scaler insert facilitates more rapid roo t debridement during flap surgery than hand instruments without disadvantag eously affecting clinical healing.