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Removal of dental calculus deposits is one of the basic parts of professional dental cleaning. Despite the popularity of power-driven scalers, several risks are associated with their use, mechanical damage of the enamel surface being one of the most important. The present study evaluated enamel damage caused by a sonic scaler in different work patterns to quantify the damage and allow a clear comparison. Seventy-five canine teeth were carefully extracted from twenty-three dogs. The scaler was used on a clean surface with several combinations of time (five to twenty seconds) and parts of the scaler (point vs. side of the tip). Subsequently, damaged surface topography was mapped using three-dimensional optical microscopy. The results revealed a high variance in defect depth which was influenced by both factors. Statistical assessment confirmed highly significant (P < 0.001) or at least significant (P < 0.05) differences in data acquired for each group. As expected, the shallowest defects were produced by the scaler side in the shortest experimental period (five seconds). Point use proved to be quite damaging, as it resulted in approximately four times higher median values than the side in the same timeframe. Therefore, it is crucial to follow all safety precautions when handling a power-driven scaler even during routine treatments. Use of the side of the tip and constant movement on the tooth surface are essential to reduce the risk of enamel damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The analgesic effects of carprofen, morphine and bupivacaine on early oral pain after periodontal treatment in dogs have been poorly investigated. Forty-five client-owned dogs (8.5 ± 6.4 kg and 7.8 ± 3.2 years) scheduled for periodontal treatment were allocated to carprofen, morphine and bupivacaine groups (n = 15 each). The study was designed as a prospective, randomised, double "blinded" clinical study. Carprofen (CAR, 4 mg/kg, subcutaneously) or morphine (MOR, 0.3 mg/kg, intramuscularly) was given thirty minutes before the dogs were placed under anesthesia. Bilateral maxillary and mandibular nerve blocks were performed with bupivacaine (BUP, 1 mg/kg), after the induction of anesthesia. Dogs were anaesthetised with medetomidine-propofol-isoflurane and reversal was carried out using atipamezole. Periodontal painful sub-gingival scaling was performed in all dogs. Periodontal treatment lasted for up to one hour. A modified University of Melbourne Pain Score (UMPS, 0-28 points), Visual Analog pain Scale (VAS, 0-100 mm), plasma glucose (Glu) and serum cortisol (Cor) levels were assessed before administration of analgesics (MOR-0, CAR-0, BUP-0) and two hours thereafter, that is thirty minutes after atipamezole administration (MOR-2, CAR-2, BUP-2). Analgesia rescue with tramadol (2 mg/kg intramuscularly) was provided for animals with modified UMPS over 14 or VAS over 50 points. Differences in Glu and Cor values were analysed with analysis of variance (ANOVA) for repeated measures, in UMPS and VAS over time for each group with the Friedman test and pre- and postoperatively using the Mann-Whitney U-test. Differences were considered significant at P < 0.05. Analgesia rescue was provided to one patient of the CAR group and one patient of the MOR group. No differences in UMPS values between groups were detected. A significant increase in VAS values after treatment was detected in all groups. Plasma glucose levels significantly increased in MOR-2 compared to MOR-0 and CAR-2. Serum cortisol levels significantly increased in MOR-2 compared to MOR-0, CAR-2 and BUP-2. The results of this study indicate that bupivacaine nerve blocks could be superior to carprofen, which in turn could be superior to morphine, for early analgesia (up to two hours) following sub-gingival scaling for periodontal treatment in dogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]