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The Effectiveness of InGaAsP Diode Laser Radiation to Detect Subgingival Calculus as Compared to an Explorer
Author(s) -
Folwaczny Matthias,
Heym Richard,
Mehl Albert,
Hickel Reinhard
Publication year - 2004
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.2004.75.5.744
Subject(s) - calculus (dental) , molar , dentistry , laser , orthodontics , mathematics , medicine , physics , optics
Background: The aim of the present study was to compare the ability of the diode laser to detect residual calculus with that of an explorer. Methods: The root surface of 40 extracted human teeth, each partially covered with subgingival calculus, was instrumented with curets under simulated clinical conditions in a manikin. The samples were randomly assigned to two study groups. In group A, the root surface was treated with an explorer until it appeared free of mineralized deposits upon examination. The samples in group B were instrumented until the relative intensity of fluorescence as induced with diode laser radiation was below a threshold value of 5. The root surface of each sample was then examined for residual calculus using standardized digital images. The statistical analysis was performed with a non‐paired t test at a level of significance of 5% ( P <0.05). Results: The root surface of single‐rooted teeth showed residual calculus on 0.19 ± 0.37 × 10 7 µm 2 in the laser group and on 0.11 ± 0.26 × 10 7 µm 2 in the explorer group ( P = 0.19). For multirooted teeth, the mean calculus‐covered area was 0.50 ± 0.48 × 10 7 µm 2 for the teeth evaluated with an explorer and 0.27 ± 0.43 × 10 7 µm 2 for the diode laser group ( P = 0.02). Conclusion: The present findings indicate that the detection of subgingival calculus is significantly improved using 655 nm diode laser radiation compared to an explorer for molars but not for single‐rooted teeth. J Periodontol 2004;75:744‐749 .