Calculus titanium
and plaque removal abutments
from osseointegrated
implant
John W. McCartney, DDS* Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, D.C. The use of conventional metallic scalers should be avoided on titanium surfaces because of the ease with which abutment surfaces may be scratched or gouged with these instruments. Calculus and plaque accumulations seem to be predominantly supragingival and more easily dislodged from the unscratched titanium abutment surface than from conventional root surfaces. A cotton tip applicator has been advocated as a convenient instrument for cleaning the internal aspect of the imp1ant.l Plastic scalers and interproximal brushes have
also been used. When these are not available, the wooden handle of an applicator may be beveled with a sharp knife blade or a disk in a handpiece and used to dislodge most, if not all, of the calculus and plaque from the abutments (Fig. 1). Also, interproximal wedges may be stabilized in a curved hemostat for use (Fig. 2). Flossing usually completes the job without introducing scratches or gauges to the abutment surface. REFERENCE
1. McCartney J, Kuhar K. Cleaning the internal threaded chamber of oaseointegrated implants. J PROSTHET DENT 1990;63:468-9.
The viewsor opinions expressedherein arethose of the author and do not necessarilyreflect those of the United States Army.
Reprint
requests
to:
10/4/25402
DR. JOHN W. MCCARTNEY U.S. ARMY AREA DENTAL LABORATORY WALTER REED ARMY MEDICAL CENTER WASHINGTON. DC 20307-5200
Fig. 1. Beveled wooden handle of cotton applicator removes calculus without scratching titanium abutments.
Fig. 2. Wedge tip used to dislodge calculus from titanium abutments.
aColonel, U.S. Army, DC; Commander,
U.S. Army Area Dental
Laboratory.
896
JUNE
1992
VOLUME
67
NUMBER
6
and plaque removal abutments
from osseointegrated
implant
John W. McCartney, DDS* Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, D.C. The use of conventional metallic scalers should be avoided on titanium surfaces because of the ease with which abutment surfaces may be scratched or gouged with these instruments. Calculus and plaque accumulations seem to be predominantly supragingival and more easily dislodged from the unscratched titanium abutment surface than from conventional root surfaces. A cotton tip applicator has been advocated as a convenient instrument for cleaning the internal aspect of the imp1ant.l Plastic scalers and interproximal brushes have
also been used. When these are not available, the wooden handle of an applicator may be beveled with a sharp knife blade or a disk in a handpiece and used to dislodge most, if not all, of the calculus and plaque from the abutments (Fig. 1). Also, interproximal wedges may be stabilized in a curved hemostat for use (Fig. 2). Flossing usually completes the job without introducing scratches or gauges to the abutment surface. REFERENCE
1. McCartney J, Kuhar K. Cleaning the internal threaded chamber of oaseointegrated implants. J PROSTHET DENT 1990;63:468-9.
The viewsor opinions expressedherein arethose of the author and do not necessarilyreflect those of the United States Army.
Reprint
requests
to:
10/4/25402
DR. JOHN W. MCCARTNEY U.S. ARMY AREA DENTAL LABORATORY WALTER REED ARMY MEDICAL CENTER WASHINGTON. DC 20307-5200
Fig. 1. Beveled wooden handle of cotton applicator removes calculus without scratching titanium abutments.
Fig. 2. Wedge tip used to dislodge calculus from titanium abutments.
aColonel, U.S. Army, DC; Commander,
U.S. Army Area Dental
Laboratory.
896
JUNE
1992
VOLUME
67
NUMBER
6
