Removal of root substance with the Vector-system compared with conventional debridement in vitro.

OBJECTIVE The aim of the present study was to assess the removal of root substance with the Vector-system depending on different irrigation fluids and to compare the results with conventional methods for root debridement. MATERIAL AND METHODS Forty extracted human teeth were treated using four different methods: Vector-system with polishing fluid and metal curette (VP), Vector-system with abrasive fluid and metal curette (VA), conventional ultrasonic system (U) with insert tip "P" and hand instrument. Treatment of the calculus-free root surfaces was carried out for a total of 12 min. using an artificial periodontal pocket. At intervals of 120 s, the removal of dental hard tissues was assessed using a three-dimensional (3D) laser scanning device and the Match 3D software with an accuracy of 0.00001 mm(3). RESULTS No difference in the removal of root substance with the hand instrument (0.0055 mm(3)/s) and the Vector-system using the abrasive fluid (0.0044 mm(3)/s) could be observed (p=0.51). Using these two systems, a larger amount of root substance (p<0.05) was removed compared with the other methods (U: 0.0023 mm(3)/s, VP: 0.0022 mm(3)/s), which did not differ from each other (p=0.76). CONCLUSIONS The present study indicates that the Vector-system in combination with polishing fluid or conventional ultrasonics might be used for root debridement without extensive root substance removal.