An in vitro study of oscillating instruments of root planing
This article examines a new type of tool which can act as an adjunct in the armamentarium in scaling and root-planing procedures. The authors found that this rotary instrument, PER-IO-TOP, works well in furcations and following scaling and root planing done with a curette in heavy-calculus patients-it takes three to nine times longer to remove heavy calculus using this rotary instrument. This study was performed in vitro and therefore is not applicable to its use in patients. There were four types of PER-IO-TOR tips used and the TOR 3 tip yielded the smoothest surface as examined by scanning electron micrograph. All tips in this study yielded a smear layer with their use. [D.R.H.]
Mengel, R., M. Stelzel, and L. Flores de Jacoby, J Clin Periodont, 21:513, 1994