[REM and Hommel tester studies of the dental enamel surfaces after removal of dental calculus with 2 different scalers].

Removal of gingival calculus was performed with two different scalers on teeth that had been extracted previously. Using scanning electron microscopic prints and the Hommel tester, it was demonstrated that the dental surface had obtained a clearly visible roughness. This is determined by the dental surface, the compressive strength and the characteristics of the various scalers. The use of a Tompkin reamer to smooth the surface produced even deeper criss-cross grooves than the scaler, and not a satisfactory smooth surface.