Efficacy of 5 machining instruments in scaling of molar furcations

The scaling efficacy of machining instruments was studied in the furcations of 100 extracted molars. The molars were divided into 5 groups with similar furcation anatomy, painted with artificial calculus, partly submerged in stone blocks, and the furcation entrances covered with a heavy rubber dam material. Ten mandibular and 10 maxillary molars were scaled by an experienced operator with each of the following instruments/inserts: ultrasonic instrument with either a prototype ball point insert or with a new pointed insert; ultrasonic instrument with a ball point insert; reciprocating hand-piece with new inserts for furcations; and a sonic scaler with a universal insert. The molar groups were coded and graded in a stereomicroscope by 2 independent examiners, and the rankings were tested with the Kruskal-Wallis test and the multiple comparisons between treatments test. The results revealed statistically significant differences between the instruments, as well as between different topographical areas of the furcations. The sonic scaler with a universal insert and the ultrasonic instrument with ball point inserts were significantly more efficient (P < 0.05) than the reciprocating handpiece with inserts in most of the areas studied. For mandibular molars, significantly better results (P < 0.05) were obtained for lingual furcation entrances than for furcation roofs. For maxillary molars, significantly better results (P < 0.05) were obtained for distal and buccal entrance areas than for furcation roofs and inside of mesial roots. The present study may give some guidance to the practitioner in choosing machining instruments for furcation cleaning as well as identifying the most difficult topographical areas to instrument.