The Comparative Effect of Ultrasonic Scalers on Titanium Surfaces: An In Vitro Study

Abstract

In this preliminary study, the new ultrasonic scaler and conventional ultrasonic scaler were shown to be useful for removing artificial debris and produced no significant damage to titanium surfaces compared to plastic scalers. We concluded that new and conventional ultrasonic scalers with a non-metal tip would be suitable for implant maintenance.

Dental-Implant Maintenance: A Critical Factor in Long-Term Treatment Success

“…Ultrasonic or piezoelectric scalers with plastic or carbon tips have also been shown to be effective without damaging implant surfaces. [9][10][11] The nonporous titanium surface calculus that forms around implants tends to be softer than calculus adhering to a natural tooth and is mostly supra-gingival. Occasionally, harder deposit around an implant may be found, which can be removed using a product like SofScale (Dentsply Professional, York, PA, USA) before scaling to further reduce the risk of scratching the implant during calculus removal.…”

Novel Models to Manage Biofilms on Microtextured Dental Implant Surfaces

“…These tips are usually made of carbon fiber, titanium, Teflon®, graphite, or plastic. A number of studies have demonstrated that ultrasonic tips designed for implant maintenance do not cause significant damage at the macroscopic level [50][51][52]. Paradoxically, some investigators have proposed the use of instruments that deliberately flatten the microscopically rough implant surface to reduce its roughness and thereby area available for the attachment of bacteria [53,54].…”

Novel methods for debridement of dental implant surfaces contaminated by biofilm

“…A number of studies have demonstrated that ultrasonic tips designed for implant maintenance do not cause significant damage at the macroscopic level. 48,60,61 Paradoxically, some investigators have proposed the use of instruments that deliberately flatten the microscopically rough implant surface to reduce its roughness and thereby area available for the attachment of bacteria. 62,63 This appears to be a compromise since the original goal has always been to remove biofilm without causing any surface modifications.…”

“…Nevertheless, these suffer from the same limitation as hand instruments in that they cannot access the undercut regions of threads. 48 A number of manufacturers have released so-called 'implant safe' ultrasonic inserts, 61 which are made of carbon fibre, silicon or plastic. There is some evidence that ultrasonic scaler tips designed for implant debridement do not modify the surface topography excessively.…”

“…There is some evidence that ultrasonic scaler tips designed for implant debridement do not modify the surface topography excessively. 48,61 On the other hand, some investigators have proposed deliberately reducing the roughness of the implant surface to reduce the attachment of bacteria, using an open debridement (surgical flap) approach. 62,63 For rough implant surfaces, including SLA, a number of studies have reported that nonmetal hand instruments and ultrasonic scaler tips gave similar surface roughness to untreated controls.…”