Efficiency of professional tooth brushing before ultrasonic scaling

• Published in: International journal of dental hygiene Vol. 13; no. 2; pp. 125 - 131
• Main Authors: Kim, MJ, Noh, H, Oh, HY
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01-05-2015
• Subjects: Adult; Biofilms; Dental Calculus - therapy; Dental Devices, Home Care; dental hygienist; Dental Hygienists; Dental Plaque - therapy; Dental Plaque Index; Dental Scaling - methods; Dentistry; Female; High-Energy Shock Waves - therapeutic use; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Oral diseases; Oral hygiene; Oral Hygiene Index; Patient Satisfaction; Periodontal Attachment Loss - classification; Periodontal Index; Time Factors; tooth brushing; Toothbrushing - methods; Treatment Outcome; Ultrasonic imaging; ultrasonic scaling; Young Adult; tooth brushing; ultrasonic scaling; dental hygienist
• ISSN: 1601-5029; 1601-5037
• DOI: 10.1111/idh.12127

Objectives
This study aimed to examine the effect of dental plaque biofilm removal with a toothbrush, an interdental brush and dental floss by a dental hygienist prior to ultrasonic scaling on treatment times and client satisfaction.
Methods
This study was conducted among adults who received scaling after agreeing to participate in this study at a dental clinic in Seoul, Korea, from July to September 2012. Thirty‐seven subjects received modified scaling (M‐scaling) which is ultrasonic scaling after plaque control with a toothbrush and dental floss by a dental hygienist, and 37 subjects received routine ultrasonic scaling (R‐scaling). Univariate and multivariate analyses and chi‐squared and t‐tests were conducted using SAS. This study was approved by the Kangwon Institutional Review Board.
Results
Significant differences were found between the outcomes of M‐ and R‐scaling for both the ultrasonic scaling time (M‐scaling, 7.41 ± 6.18 min; R‐scaling, 23.22 ± 6.92 min) and the total tooth cleaning time (M‐scaling, 15.92 ± 7.70 min; R‐scaling, 23.22 ± 6.92 min) (P < 0.001). Subject satisfaction with the scaling process was not significantly different between M‐scaling (4.54 ± 0.80) and R‐scaling (4.84 ± 0.44).
Conclusions
These findings indicated that removing the dental plaque biofilm with a toothbrush and dental floss by a hygienist before scaling with an ultrasonic device was more effective in reducing the working time of the dental hygienist.