What is ultrasonic dental cleaning?
Dr. D.Sendhil Nathan MDS, DNB Prosthodontics And Implantology
You might receive dental in-office cleanings with a device with which dentists scrap your teeth and irrigate a stream of water at a time. This is ultrasonic dental cleaning. It is prescribed to remove hard staining and calculus deposits over the teeth.
Ultrasonic dental cleaning is a common tooth cleaning procedure that equips electromagnetic waves in a power scalers (ultrasonic scalers) to clean the teeth. This is not just a regular tooth cleaning and it is needed when you need deeper oral cleanings (i.e) underneath the gum tissues and polish the teeth surfaces. Dentists call it dental scaling (or) root planning treatment.
Why ultrasonic dental cleaning is recommended?
The ultrasonic scalers are designed to clear away the large and hard biofilms called plaque and tartar build-up. Brushing and flossing are not just enough to clear the calculus developed on teeth over the gum surfaces. Over time, the bacteria present in those deposits combine with saliva and becomes harder. It is called plaque which becomes even harder called “Tartar”.
If you do not treat or clear away plaque deposits, it will damage the surrounding gum tissues and cause gum diseases. Remember that gum diseases like Periodontitis are linked to tooth loss and serious diseases like heart diseases, etc.
Initially, dentists used metal scraping tools to remove such deposits. It is associated with a problem as it damages the enamel that cannot heal. Later, dental doctors use ultrasonic scalers for dental cleanings. It does not damage the teeth like the metal scrapers and ensures you with clean, healthy teeth and gums.
How do dentists clean teeth with ultrasonic scalers?
The power scalars use vibrational energy for the cleaning process.
The ultrasonic scalers produce vibrations to weaken the calculus. When it vibrates, the sound waves are produced as a result and it breaks the tartar deposits on teeth. Meanwhile, the water comes out from the device’s tip flushes the removed debris and prevents the scalar from overheating.
Even though the device produces vibrations and sound waves, the patient does not sense them. In certain cases, Dentists combine handling scaling with ultrasonic cleaning to clean the stains and calculus left behind.
Advantages
In-office dental cleanings with ultrasonic scalers have the following benefits:
- This is pain-free dental cleaning. The patient does not encounter pain or difficulties during the treatment.
- The cleaning process is not time-consuming and it can be done in a single dental visit.
- It is essential to prevent gum diseases.
- This can remove teeth stains as well as clean the accumulation of bacteria over the teeth.
The problem with ultrasonic scalers is it is not suitable for people with hypersensitivity and clean the newly erupted teeth. Similarly, it is not apt for people suffering from certain illnesses and taking medications for a cure. So it is essential to reveal your health problems and medications you are taking to your Dentist before the ultrasonic treatment. It will help you to avoid certain difficulties that occur as a side effect of the cleaning treatment.
