• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.23-30
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• 2008

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the incidence of curet fracture and its contributing factors. Material and Methods: Fifty-eight periodontal curets which were broken during periodontal treatment in Kangnung National University Dental Hospital for 1 year were used as study materials. The blade thickness of new curets and broken ones was measured using a digital micrometer. Types of treatment procedures, clinical experience of operators, point of breakage, and method of removal of broken fragments were recorded for each broken curet. Results: The incidence of curet fracture in root planing (16.4 curets per 1,000 procedures) was higher than those in flap surgery (7.5) or supragingival scaling (2.7). No curet was broken during supportive periodontal treatment. The incidence of fracture did not seem to be related with clinical experience of operators. The most frequent breakage point of the curets were upper 1/3 of blades. Fifty-six of 58 broken fragments were removed by non-surgical methods. Two broken tips which could not removed non-surgically were left in the pockets, and proved to be removed spontaneously 1 week later. Conclusion: Root planing showed higher incidence of curet fracture than any other type of periodontal treatment. Most of the fractured fragments were removed by non-surgical method. Further study is needed to develop methods of removal of the fragments which can not be removed non-surgically.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.575-584
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• 1997

The quality of periodontal instrument cutting edge is a basic element of effective root planing procedure. Using instruments, the sharp edge is changed into blunt or beveled edge. With the blunt instrument, the periodontal treatment can't be carried into accuracy and effective. The study on the wear of periodontal curet is insufficient, there are few publications about the change of sharpness of cutting egde after using instrument and a certen reports were published on the study of scanning electron microscope(SEM) examination. In this study, to declare the number of strokes for sharpening of instruments, the changes of cutting edge is measured by the clinical methods, tactile sensitivity examination and refraction light-white line test after scaling strokes and root planing strokes. SEM test was added for defined the changes of cutting edges. The 7/8 Gracey curets that have been never used was tested. Maxillary molars which were extracted from the School of Dental Medicine, Dankook University was used. Subjected teeth had attachment loss more than 6 mm in bucca-lingual surface and sufficient calculus of a band type in cervical area. The strokes of curet were executed 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13 times on scaling stroke and 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 times on root planing stroke. A resident has periodontal experience over 3 years carried out the clinical examinations those tactile sensitivity examination and refraction light-white line test 5 times. The case there being tactile sensitivity certenly is 2, the case being felt tactile sensitivity is 1, and the case there not being tactile sensitivity is 0. The visual examination was recorded as following. The case that refracted white line is not recognised is 2, the case that uncerten is 1, and the case that acknowledged is 0. The results were obtained as follows. 1. After scaling strokes, the tactile sensitivity was reduced after 11 strokes and disappeared in 13 strokes. 2. In tactile sensitivity after root planing procedures, sensitivity was reduced after 25 strokes and disappeared in 35 strokes. 3. In case of visual examination, the detection of refracted white line was increased after 9 strokes of scaling procedures and the accuracy of wear wasn't showed after root planing procedures. 4. In SEM, metal projection was observed on new periodontal curet cutting edge and it was disappeared after scaling procedures. 5. In SEM, the cutting edge was showed changing linear into an aspect of the surface after 5 strokes of scaling procedures and 10 strokes of root planing procedures and showed beveled edge in 11 strokes of scaling procedures, 25 strokes of root planing procedures. The results of 3-type examination indicated that the sharpening of curet should be performed after 11 strokes of scaling procedures and 25 strokes of root planing procedures.