Comparison of Hand and Ultrasonic Periodontal Parameters in Ghanaian Patients with Moderate Chronic Periodontitis

Abstract

Background: The traditional method of treating chronic periodontitis initially is non surgical therapy which involves oral hygiene instructions and mechanical instrumentation using either hand or machine driven instruments. This reduces infection and then subsequent healing of the periodontal tissues with a resultant pocket elimination or reduction.
General Aim: The aim of this study was to determine if hand and ultrasonic instrumentation produce comparable periodontal pocket reduction among Ghanaian patients with moderate chronic periodontitis.
Methodology: The study was an interventional study, spanning a period of 5 months for each patient. Twenty patients with pocket depth 5 – 7 mm between the ages of 30 – 81 years were treated using hand and ultrasonic instrumentation at the University of Ghana
Dental School clinic. Periodontal parameters measured include plaque scores, bleeding on probing (BOP) scores, probing pocket depth (PPD), probing attachment level (PAL) and gingival recession. Significance level was set at 0.05.
Results: The mean PPD at baseline for patients treated using hand instrumentation was 5.5mm and was reduced to 3.4mm at fifth session of instrumentation. Ultrasonic instrumentation recorded a reduction of baseline value of 5.5mm to 3.6mm at fifth session.
Bothmethods of instrumentation recorded a significant reduction of the mean PPD without a significant difference in the mean reduction between the two methods of instrumentation.
Conclusion: The use of hand or ultrasonic instrumentation produced similar results with respect to reduction in BOP, plaque scores, PPD and PAL