Have you ever wondered what determines the type of instruments your dental hygienist uses during your cleaning? One of the most common tools is our ultrasonic scaler, a piece of technology many patients never think twice about. Yikes, who wants to think about those sharp, pointy things coming at you? Most of you probably come to your appointment looking forward to relaxing and enjoying that amazingly fresh, clean feeling when you leave.
Today, I want to share what our ultrasonic scalers dentistry uses, why they’re used, and the three different types available. This is going to be exciting, so hang on!
What Is an Ultrasonic Scaler?
An ultrasonic scaler is a power-driven instrument used by your hygienist during many types of dental cleanings; I use them myself! These scalers vibrate at a high frequency, and some also have linear tip movement.
The vibrations and movement crush calculus, disrupt bacteria and biofilm, and remove stains. A water spray cools the instrument during use. This spray also acts as a lavage, flushing out bacteria and biofilm while promoting healing in deep pockets greater than 4mm.
Ultrasonic scalers were first introduced in the late 1950s, but rapidly changing technology has since revolutionized the tool. As a result, treatment outcomes have improved, and patient comfort has increased. And we all know patient comfort is key.
Benefits of Ultrasonic Scaling
There are many benefits to ultrasonic scaling during your dental cleaning. You may benefit from this treatment if you have:
- Gum disease
- Heavy stain
- Heavy calculus behind your lower front teeth
- Sensitivity to the pressure of hand scaling
- Braces
If you have periodontal pockets, the scaler can reach deep down while causing minimal tissue distention. It also cleans tooth roots using less pressure than hand instruments. The vibrations are gentler on tooth structure while still removing heavy stain, calculus, and plaque.
The cooling spray helps promote healing through a water lavage that removes bacteria and biofilm. If your teeth are inflamed from braces, you’ll notice the benefits too. Overall, ultrasonic scaling leaves your teeth feeling smooth and clean.
The 3 Types of Ultrasonic Scalers
OK, this part is for all my science and engineering geeks! Ultrasonic scalers fall into three categories: sonic, magnetostrictive, and piezoelectric.
- Sonic scalers operate at 3,000 to 8,000 cycles per second, using compressed air to create vibration.
- Magnetostrictive scalers operate at 18,000 to 45,000 cycles per second, using electrical current passed over a stack of metal strips.
- Piezoelectric scalers operate at 25,000 to 50,000 cycles per second, using electricity passed over crystals in the handpiece.
All three types have specially designed tips to reach every area of your teeth, much like a hand instrument would. You can rest assured that Dr. MacPhail and your hygienist stay current on the latest technology to provide the best possible ultrasonic instruments. We’ve found that magnetostrictive scalers give our patients the best results.
Our goal is to clean your teeth as effectively as possible while keeping you comfortable throughout the process. We can also pair ultrasonic cleaning with hand instruments for the highest degree of efficacy. So sit back, enjoy your cleaning, and know that your oral health is in good hands!
