[Scanning electron microscopic research on the clinical use of interdental stripping]

The morphology of approximal enamel that has been stripped for therapeutic reasons was evaluated under the scanning electron microscope (SEM) twelve weeks and one year after treatment. In part one of the study the teeth were extracted before evaluation, in the second part replica were taken. For comparative reasons the morphology of the natural approximal enamel surface was evaluated under the SEM, too. After twelve weeks the edges of the furrows were seen to be smoother and plaque accumulations were found in the depths of the furrows. One year after there was found essentially no difference. In some of the specimens there was found a certain levelling of the edges in the approximal contact area, but not in the cervical region of the artificially abraded tooth surface. The natural enamel surface of the contact area showed excavations of similar size as the furrows that remain after stripping and finishing. But our study shows that the therapeutic approximal abrasion leaves furrows in the cervical region that even after one year had not undergone repair. The question is discussed, if thus predispositions for periodontal pathologies and caries could be created.