1Department of Periodontology, AMES Dental College & Hospital, Raichur, India
2Department of Periodontology, College of Dental Sciences, Davangere, India
3Department of Periodontology, School of Dentistry, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, USA
4Department of Oral Biology, School of Dentistry, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, USA
Background: Roughened tooth surface facilitates the accumulation of plaque which can be removed by mechanical and chemical methods. Mechanical methods like tooth brushing and conditions like fluorosis may bring about surface changes in teeth. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the surface roughness changes induced by tooth brushing with different toothbrushes in fluorotic and nonfluorotic teeth and the effect of fluorosis on the surface roughness changes of teeth.
Methods: Both fluorotic and nonfluorotic periodontally healthy extracted teeth were included in this study. Each of them were grouped into Manual Brush (MB) group, Electric Brush (EB) group and Ultrasonic Brush (UB) group and the surface roughness was determined using scanning electron microscopy and non-contact profilometry.
Results: Results showed that there was significant increase in surface roughness value in cementum with Manual Brush and Ultrasonic Brush groups. Intergroup comparisons showed a significant difference in surface roughness for enamel and cementum in the ultrasonic brush group. Increased surface roughness values were noted in fluorotic teeth when compared to nonfluorotic teeth.
Conclusion: Results confirmed that tooth brushing bring about surface roughness changes and fluorosis also has effect on surface roughness.
Tooth brushing, surface roughness, Fluorotic enamel and cementum, Nonfluorotic enamel and cementum, periodontally healthy teeth, SEM
