ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: This study is designed to investigate the various impacts of different types of scaler tips such as cooper alloy base tip and the others on the surface roughness of teeth and implant by the method which is currently in clinical use. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four different types of disc shaped porcelain, titanium, zirconia, and Type III gold alloy dental materials sized 15 mm diameter, 1.5 mm thickness were used for the experiment. Plastic hand curette (Group PS), cooper alloy new tip (Group IS), and stainless steel tip (Group SS) were used as testing appliances. A total of 64 specimens were used for this study; Four specimens for each material and appliance group. Surface roughness was formed with 15 degree angle in ultrasonic scaler tip and with 45 degree angle in hand curette of instrument tip and the specimen surface with 5 mm long, one horizontal-reciprocating motion per second for 30 seconds by 40 g force. To survey the surface roughness of each specimen, a field emission scanning electron microscope, an atomic force microscope, and a surface profiler were used. (Ra, microm). RESULTS: According to SEM, most increased surface roughness was observed in SS group while IS groups had minimal roughness change. Measurement by atomic force microscope presented that the surface roughness of SS group was significantly greater than those of PS, IS and control groups in the type III gold alloy group (P<.05). IS group showed lesser surface roughness changes compared to SS group in porcelain and gold alloy group (P<.05). According to surface profiler, surface roughness of SS group showed greater than those of PS, IS and control groups and IS group showed lesser than those of SS group in all specimen groups. Type III gold alloy group had large changes on surface roughness than those of porcelain, titanium, zirconia (P<.05). CONCLUSION: The result of this study showed that newly developed copper alloy scaler tip can cause minimal roughness impacts on the surface of implant and dental materials; therefore this may be a useful alternative for prophylaxis of implant and restored teeth.