Assessment of Patients’ Dental Scaling Experience and Their Comparative Perception of The Effectiveness of Manual and Ultrasonic Scaling.

Abstract

Introduction: The prevalence of Periodontal diseases is a global epidemic, and several preventive and therapeutic procedures are carried out to curb it. Manual and ultrasonic scaling of teeth to remove supragingival deposits is one of the most executed procedures worldwide, but this is not without some unpleasant experience for the patients.

Objective: This study is to investigate patients' experience during the dental scaling procedure and to determine their perception of effectiveness between manual and ultrasonic scaling methods.

Methodology: The study involved 124 patients who presented at the Periodontology Department of the Dental Centre at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja, Lagos. Data was collected with a self-administered questionnaire to obtain the sociodemographic parameters. The patients' experience, with both manual and ultrasonic scaling, was assessed, and their preference and recommendation for either was recorded with the questionnaire.

Data analysis was carried out using SPSS version 24. For descriptive variables that are continuous, the mean and measures of variability were determined. Simple frequency and percentages were determined for categorical variables. Bivariate analysis was done using a Pearson's chi-square or Fisher's exact as appropriate for the independent variables and the variables which assess the patients' perception of effectiveness for manual or ultrasonic scaling. Statistical significance was determined at p≤ 0.05.

Results The mean age of the subjects is 40.1 ± 16.5 years, with an age range of 14 to 78 years. The mean oral hygiene score was 1.96±0.82.  The majority of the subjects were in the 20-29 years age group. The professionals were the most, 48(38.7%), followed by the skilled workers, 36(29%).  Ten (8.1%) reported that manual is more effective compared to 114(91.9%) who reported that ultrasonic scaling is more effective. The preference for ultrasonic scaling was consistent and profound in all the determinant parameters assessed, although only the occupation of the subjects was significant (p = 0.02).

Conclusion: It is evident from this study that most of the patients prefer ultrasonic scaling to manual. This emphasises pre-scaling counselling and motivation of the patients while also spelling out the possible unpleasant experience that may accompany the procedure. The provision of ultrasonic scalers by the health authorities will also benefit most dental patients who prefer their use.

Keywords:

Dental, Scaling, Manual, Ultrasonic, Experience, Perception

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