Abstract
Purpose: To compare patients' perception of discomfort, vibration and noise levels between piezoelectric and the magnetostrictive ultrasonic units during periodontal debridement.
Methods: Periodontal debridement was performed on 75 subjects using a split-mouth design. Two quadrants on the same side were instrumented with a piezoelectric ultrasonic device (EMS Swiss Mini Master® Piezon) and the remaining 2 quadrants were instrumented with a magnetostrictive ultrasonic device (Dentsply Cavitron® SPS™). Subjects marked between 0 and 100 along a visual analog scale (VAS) for each of the 3 variables immediately after treatment of each half of the dentition. Scores of the VAS were compared using a nonparametric test for paired data, the Wilcoxon Signed-Rank test. The level of significance was set at p<0.05. Descriptive statistics included the median and the first and third quartiles as a measure of variation.
Results: Mean scores for patient discomfort and vibration were greater for the magnetostrictive device at p=0.007 and p=0.032, respectively. The scores for noise level between the 2 ultrasonic types were almost equal.
Conclusion: The results show that, on average, patients in this study prefer instrumentation with the piezoelectric as it relates to awareness of associated discomfort and vibration. The results of this study may assist the clinician in the decision over which ultrasonic device may prove more beneficial in decreasing patient discomfort and increasing patient compliance.
- scaling and root planing
- piezoelectric
- magnetostrictive
- periodontal debridement
- power driven scalers
- calculus removal
- ultrasonic scalers
Footnotes
-
Kelly Muhney, RDH, MS, currently practices dental hygiene at a public health clinic, CommuniCare Health Centers, in Kyle, Texas. Paul C. Dechow, PhD, is Professor and Vice Chair of the Department of Biomedical Sciences at the Texas A&M Health Science Center Baylor College of Dentistry.
-
This study supports the NDHRA priority area, Clinical Dental Hygiene Care: Assess the use of evidence-based treatment recommendations in dental hygiene practice.
- Copyright © 2010 The American Dental Hygienists’ Association