RESIDUAL SUBGINGIVAL CALCULUS FOLLOWING NONSURGICAL TREATMENT

  Residual subgingival calculus (RSC) was studied in 23 patients undergoing flap surgery following nonsurgical treatment of periodontal disease. A total of 51 modified Widman operations (1-6 in each patient) were performed, and 205 teeth with 1055 surfaces were evaluated. Pockets of 1-3 mm were found on 64%, 4-6 mm on 30%, and >7 mm on 6% of the treated surfaces.

  RSC deposits were present on 191 surfaces (18%). The surfaces carrying the deposits had an average pocket depth of 4.77 mm and an average clinical attachment level of 5.4 mm apical to the cementoenamel junction. Fifty-one per cent showed no bleeding on probing, 41% showed bleeding, and 8% exhibited suppuration from the periodontal pocket. Over a third of the deposits (37%) were thin and level with the root surface, in the shape of a dot or flake. The remaining 63% were thicker, extending above the root surface in the form of a line or spot. Thin deposits were mostly found in shallow periodontal pockets, while deep pockets contained thicker deposits. The association between pocket depth and deposit thickness was statistically significant (p = 0.02). Thirty-five per cent of the RSC deposits were found on teeth with pocket depth of 1-3 mm, 50% on teeth with pocket depth of 4-6 mm, and 15% on teeth with pocket depth of >7 mm.

  RSC on the proximal surfaces of teeth with deep periodontal pockets is an indication for periodontal surgery, which allows visual inspection and thorough scaling and planing of the exposed root.

Doc. dr. sc. Dušan Grošelj dr. stom., Odsek za Stomatologijo. MF v Ljubljani
Asist. mag. Ksenija Rener Sitar dr. stom., Odsek za Stomatologijo. MF v Ljubljani