Instrumentation Effectiveness of Modified, Area-Specific Hand Scalers During Non-Surgical Periodontal Therapy

Inclusion Criteria: * Healthy patients * Patients 18 years old or considered an adult in the state in which they live * Well-controlled systemic conditions * Diagnosis of localized or generalized moderate to advanced periodontitis * 1 or more multi-rooted, posterior teeth planned for extraction * Clinical attachment loss of 3-4 mm * Probing depths greater than 4 mm Exclusion Criteria: * Patients taking anti-coagulants except for low-dose aspirin * Patients with significant cardiac conditions that would limit the amount of local anesthetic administered during any one dental visit * Third molars * Root caries that would interfere with a simple extraction * Damaged root surfaces * External root resorption * Previously endodontic treated teeth with a current periapical lesion present * Teeth that break during the extraction