Ultrasonic teeth cleaning - professional removal of soft and hard dental deposits using an ultrasonic scaler and a special paste.
There are two types of ultrasonic scalers:
- Magnetostrictive;
- Piezoceramic.
Ultrasonic handpieces work in four directions:
- mechanical treatment - directly removing dental deposits.
- irrigation - irrigation with water. The water flow cools the surface of the tooth and washes away fragments of hard dental deposits from hard-to-reach places.
- cavitation - the formation of air bubbles, which, increasing in size, burst, breaking the membranes of bacterial cells.
- acoustic turbulence - a hydrodynamic wave that occurs around the scaler nozzle. The action of acoustic turbulence has not yet been fully studied, but it has already been proven that it has a direct effect on bacterial cells.
Thanks to this mechanism of action, it becomes possible to remove dental deposits not only at the point of contact of the tip with the tooth, but also at some distance from the scaler tip, including in the periodontal pocket. If we compare the strength of two types of ultrasonic tips, then piezoelectric devices are much more powerful.
Like any dental manipulation, ultrasonic cleaning of teeth has its positive and negative sides.
Positive sides
The main advantage of this procedure is the harmlessness to tooth enamel. Harmlessness is achieved by special sharpening of the scaler nozzle. With the mechanical removal of dental plaque, no matter how carefully the doctor performs the procedure, there are microdamages in the enamel.
Another significant plus is that after ultrasonic cleaning, the teeth become lighter. Therefore, some patients compare ultrasonic cleaning with teeth whitening. However, these two procedures have nothing in common. After ultrasonic cleaning, tooth enamel acquires its natural color, which was hidden under a layer of tartar and plaque.
Teeth remain bright much longer than after mechanical removal of dental deposits. Such a long effect is explained by the fact that after ultrasonic cleaning the tooth enamel remains perfectly smooth. After mechanical removal, the microroughness of the enamel is preserved. On a rough surface, as you know, plaque accumulates much faster.
Today, many clinical trials prove that after exposure to ultrasound, dental tissues become more receptive to fluoride prophylaxis procedures. This is a significant plus.
Negative aspects of professional oral hygiene with an ultrasonic scaler
If the patient has an increased sensitivity of the teeth, then he will need to do local anesthesia. However, today it is very common for patients to have an allergic reaction to local anesthetics. Therefore, patients with enamel hypersensitivity and allergy to anesthetic will not be able to perform such cleaning.
In addition, it is not advisable to carry out ultrasonic cleaning for people with heart disease and the respiratory system. The procedure is possible only after prior consultation with a therapist.
Children's age is also a contraindication to this procedure.
In addition, dentists do not recommend ultrasonic cleaning for people with dental implants, and if they do, then with great care.
Dentists recommend that people with a tendency to form tartar should have their teeth professionally cleaned with ultrasound at least once every six months.
