To evaluate patient’ssubjective preferences to scaling with narrow probe-shaped EMS Perio Slim PS tips compared to conventional tip based on pain perception using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Ten patients were treated using a piezoelectric ultrasonic device (EMS) and two different scaler tips representing a conventional scaler tip and a Perio Slim PS scaler tip in a split-mouth design. Pain was evaluated after 2 minutes scaling using Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Data obtained was analysed by SPSS version 19.0 using Wilcoxon test. Pain assessment after treatment confirmed by the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) showed that the Perio Slim PS scaler tip (maximum pain score: 4, minimum: 2) caused less pain than the conventional scaler tip (maximum: 8, minimum: 3) (p-value = 0.007). Using Perio Slim PS scaler tip caused less pain and discomfort during scaling treatment when compared with conventional scaler tip.

Background: The influence of scaler tip design on root surface roughness, tooth substance loss and patients' pain perception is investigated. Methods: This article was divided into the following parts: Part 1 Surface roughness and substance loss: an in vitro study, which involves intact extracted teeth sectioned and treated using a piezoelectric ultrasonic device (PM200 EMS Piezon, Switzerland) with a conventional scaler tip (FS-407) and a Perio Slim (PS) scaler tip (Perio Slim DS-016A). All sectioned samples for tooth surface roughness (n=20) and tooth substance loss (n=46) analyses were measured and compared using a 3D surface texture analyser and scanning electron microscope (SEM) respectively, at baseline and following scaling. Part 2 Pain Perception: a clinical study, which was a split-mouth study design including 30 participants with gingivitis and/or mild chronic periodontitis; treated with supra-gingival scaling from teeth #13 to #23. Subjects were randomised to group A or group B. Group A was treated first with PS scaler tips, whereas group B was treated first with conventional scaler tips. Pain perception was recorded using the visual analogue scale (VAS). Results: In vitro study: both scaler tips caused significant reduction in root substance roughness after scaling (p<0.05), but no significant difference between the two scaler tips (p>0.05) was observed. The PS scaler tip caused statistically significantly less root substance loss (p<0.05) when the initial thickness of the tooth was <1000 �m. Clinical study: the participants reported significantly lesser pain score during scaling using the PS scaler tip (median: 3) than when using the conventional scaler tip (median: 5) (p<0.05). Conclusions: In the in vitro study, using a slim scaler tip design causes less tooth substance loss compared to a wider scaler tip design. In the clinical study, less pain was observed compared than a wide (conventional) scaler tip design.

Aims To evaluate the self-perceived preparedness of final-year dental undergraduate students in dental public universities in Malaysia. Methods Final-year dental undergraduate students from six dental public universities in Malaysia were invited to participate in an online study using a validated Dental Undergraduates Preparedness Assessment Scale DU-PAS. Results In total, about 245 students responded to the online questionnaire yielding a response rate of 83.05%. The age range of the respondents was 23-29 years with a mean age of 24.36 (SD 0.797). The total score obtained by the respondents was ranged from 48 to 100 with a mean score of 79.56 (SD 13.495). Weaknesses were reported in several clinical skills, cognitive and behavioural attributes. Conclusions The preparedness of undergraduate students at six dental institutions in Malaysia was comparable to students from developed countries. The dental undergraduate preparedness assessment scale is a useful tool, and dental institutions may be used for self-assessment as well as to obtain feedback from the supervisors.