Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38937866›Full record

ArticleJournal of periodontology2025

Laser and scanning electron microscopy evaluation of residual microislands of calculus.

Stephen K Harrel, Charles M Cobb, Martha E Nunn, Donggao Zhao

Abstract readComparative Study
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of periodontology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Stephen K HarrelDepartment of Periodontics, Texas A&M College of Dentistry, Dallas, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2426-2625
Charles M CobbDepartment of Periodontics, School of Dentistry, University of Missouri, Kansas City, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0844-2738
Martha E NunnPrivate Practice of Dentistry and Biostatistics, Omaha, Nebraska, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2798-6634
Donggao ZhaoUniversity of Missouri, Kansas City, Missouri, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0127-2916

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundRecent studies suggest a role for microscopic crystalline particles of residual dental calculus in the pathogenesis of periodontitis. The purpose of this ex vivo study was to compare the effectiveness of scaling and root planing (SRP) alone versus SRP combined with 24% ethylenediamine-tetra acetic acid (EDTA) gel in removing calculus from extracted teeth and to determine the optimal length of time for application of the EDTA.

methodsSpecimens consisted of 32 extracted teeth with heavy root calculus. A 4-mm diameter site was prepared on the root surface of each tooth which then underwent SRP. EDTA was applied to four timed groups: 30 s; 60 s; 120 s; and 180 s. Photomicrographs were taken at 40× magnification using white light (WL) and laser fluorescence (LF). Photomicrographs were analyzed using ImageJ. Specimens were also evaluated with scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

resultsThe mean area of residual calculus after SRP was 45%-53% (45.6% ± 19.6% WL, 53.8% ± 19.7% LF). Burnishing with EDTA for one minute following SRP reduced calculus to only 14%-18% (13.9% ± 12.5% LF, 18.2% ± 11.1% WL). Use of EDTA for greater than 1 min showed no further calculus removal. SEM revealed the surface of remaining calculus was altered by burnishing with EDTA.

conclusionSRP alone or SRP + 24% EDTA gel failed to remove all calculus. SRP alone removed >60% of calculus from root surfaces. Adjunctive use of 24% EDTA gel burnished on the root surface removed most of the calculus residual after SRP. Calculus remaining after EDTA burnishing exhibited a significantly altered morphologic appearance.

Indexed as

Dental CalculusChelating AgentsDental ScalingEdetic AcidHumansIn Vitro TechniquesLasersMicroscopy, Electron, ScanningRoot PlaningTime FactorsTooth RootChelating AgentsEdetic Acidbiofilmsdental calculusdental scalingEDTAperiodontitisroot planing

Identifiers

PMID38937866
PMCPMC11951954

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.