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Root Planing with Interdental Papilla Reflection and Fiber Optic Illumination
Author(s) -
Reinhardt Richard A.,
Johnson Georgia K.,
Tussing Gerald J.
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
journal of periodontology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.036
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1943-3670
pISSN - 0022-3492
DOI - 10.1902/jop.1985.56.12.721
Subject(s) - dentistry , major duodenal papilla , medicine , root canal , transillumination , orthodontics , ophthalmology , anatomy , pathology
T he complete removal of accretions during closed scaling and root planing in moderatedeep pockets is difficult, presumably due to inadequate mechanical and visual access. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of minimal papilla reflection and illumination with a prototype fiber optic unit on root planing efficiency. Nonmolar teeth with moderatedeep interproximal pockets (>3 mm) in four patients scheduled to receive immediate complete dentures were randomly divided into groups for treatment: Group I—interproximal root planing augmented by papilla reflection and fiber optic illumination (n = 26 surfaces); Group II—interproximal root planing with papilla reflection only (n = 24); Group III—untreated controls (n = 23). Immediately after treatment, the experimental teeth were extracted, stained with toluidine blue and interproximal areas were evaluated for remaining accretions with a microscope‐digitizing pad‐computer system. Significantly less ( P < 0.01) root surface was covered by deposits in Group I than Group II (0.57 ± 0.29% vs. 2.42 ± 0.63%), and both treatment groups had fewer ( P < 0.0005) accretions than untreated controls (57.72 ± 3.40%). These results suggest that root planing with papilla reflection produces an interproximal surface with few remaining deposits, and fiber optic illumination and transillumination further enhance this effect.