Piezoelectric Ultrasonic
I chose to do my assignment on Piezo ultrasonics because I get a lot of questions from my patients as to why we use ultrasonics. Many of them have heard their hygienists talk about them in the past, but have never understood the reasoning behind using them. I know I really enjoy using the ultrasonic unit and think that it can really assist in removing stubborn calculus. I feel like it is a skill that once you become comfortable with you never want to go without.
PICO
PICO
Patient or Problem
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How would I describe a group of clients similar to mine? What are the most important characteristics for this client?
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Patients ranging from light calculus to heavy tenacious calculus. And patients with sensitivity and deep pockets.
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Intervention, Cause, or Prognosis
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Which main intervention or prognostic factor am I considering for this client?
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Piezoelectric ultrasonic
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Comparison, or Control
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What is the main alternative to compare with the intervention?
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Compared with hand scaling.
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Outcome, or Outcomes
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What can I hope to accomplish, measure, or improve?
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Remove calculus from pockets of any depth while keeping the patient comfortable, and with the least amount of repetitive stress to the hygienist.
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The greatest thing about a piezoelectric ultrasonic is that it can be used on any case type. Piezoelectric ultrasonic units are used widely in Europe and Asia. The power is generated from a series of ceramic discs or quartz plates that create a linear tip motion without producing heat. Piezoelectric units offer a wide selection of tips that are screwed into the handpiece and tightened with a wrench. They offer large tips for heavy calculus removal, curet tips for light calculus removal, thin tips for biofilm or calculus removal, and diamond coated tips for removal of fine or burnished calculus. Satelec also makes plastic carbon composite implant tips that are used on low power.
Whether you have a patient with tenacious, burnished calculus, or one with light calculus and sensitivity piezoelectric ultrasonic is the way to go. Unlike most magnetostrictive thin tips, piezoelectric thin tips can be used with higher power on hard calculus in deep periodontal pockets (Ultrasonic Scalers). When compared with hand scaling the ultrasonic unit is favored. Researchers have discovered that the mechanical removal of deposits caused by a vibrating tip is not the only function of an ultrasonic. Lavage associated with using ultrasonics has proven to be beneficial as well for several reasons. Along with constantly flushing debris from areas being treated, water as it contacts the vibrating tip, creates a cavitation of millions of bubbles. As these bubbles contact the tooth surface, they collapse and release bursts of energy which tear apart bacterial cell walls. The effect of this cavitational activity disrupts the subgingival microbial environment. Ultrasonic instrumentation, especially when using micro-ultrasonic (thin) tips, has also been shown to be superior when accessing deep, narrow defects and class II and III furcations (Ultrasonic Scalers). The pocket can never be entirely sterilized—not with ultrasonic scaling, hand instrumentation, irrigation, a laser, locally delivered antibiotics, periodontal surgery, or even systemic antibiotics. All of these therapies can temporarily and even profoundly decrease the number of bacteria and pathogens in the pocket but none can ever eradicate them completely (Ultrasonic Scalers). A decrease in a pocket's bacteria levels is caused mostly by the physical disruption of calculus and biofilm plus the lavage created by the water flow. Ample water flow and thorough flushing of calculus and bacteria from the pocket are some of the best features of ultrasonic scaling and they are critical to its ultimate success. In addition, Using ultrasonics is less tiring for the operator, as well as less technically demanding, and the tips do not require sharpening. It has even been shown to be kinder to periodontal tissues.
Personal Reflection
I chose to look into this topic because we haven't really covered it in class yet and I have had patients question the different types because their hygienists have talked about them before and they have questions. Also, through researching the product I found out that the Piezo units do not heat up, which has been an issue before with one of my patients. I had also wondered about what is more effective; hand scaling or using an ultrasonic? Through my research I learned that both are equally effective, but they are leaning more towards some of the slim tip ultrasonics for getting to more narrow, deep pocket. I'm glad that I chose this topic for my project, I found out a lot of very useful information.
Additional Information
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrQWcadyM7Q
Citation
Ultrasonic Scalers: Piezo vs. Magnetostrictive-Innotec Dental. (n.d.). Dental Unit,Equipment Manufacturer & Supplier-Innotec
Dental. Retrieved July 14, 2012, from http://www.innotecdt.com/news/Ultrasonic
Whether you have a patient with tenacious, burnished calculus, or one with light calculus and sensitivity piezoelectric ultrasonic is the way to go. Unlike most magnetostrictive thin tips, piezoelectric thin tips can be used with higher power on hard calculus in deep periodontal pockets (Ultrasonic Scalers). When compared with hand scaling the ultrasonic unit is favored. Researchers have discovered that the mechanical removal of deposits caused by a vibrating tip is not the only function of an ultrasonic. Lavage associated with using ultrasonics has proven to be beneficial as well for several reasons. Along with constantly flushing debris from areas being treated, water as it contacts the vibrating tip, creates a cavitation of millions of bubbles. As these bubbles contact the tooth surface, they collapse and release bursts of energy which tear apart bacterial cell walls. The effect of this cavitational activity disrupts the subgingival microbial environment. Ultrasonic instrumentation, especially when using micro-ultrasonic (thin) tips, has also been shown to be superior when accessing deep, narrow defects and class II and III furcations (Ultrasonic Scalers). The pocket can never be entirely sterilized—not with ultrasonic scaling, hand instrumentation, irrigation, a laser, locally delivered antibiotics, periodontal surgery, or even systemic antibiotics. All of these therapies can temporarily and even profoundly decrease the number of bacteria and pathogens in the pocket but none can ever eradicate them completely (Ultrasonic Scalers). A decrease in a pocket's bacteria levels is caused mostly by the physical disruption of calculus and biofilm plus the lavage created by the water flow. Ample water flow and thorough flushing of calculus and bacteria from the pocket are some of the best features of ultrasonic scaling and they are critical to its ultimate success. In addition, Using ultrasonics is less tiring for the operator, as well as less technically demanding, and the tips do not require sharpening. It has even been shown to be kinder to periodontal tissues.
Personal Reflection
I chose to look into this topic because we haven't really covered it in class yet and I have had patients question the different types because their hygienists have talked about them before and they have questions. Also, through researching the product I found out that the Piezo units do not heat up, which has been an issue before with one of my patients. I had also wondered about what is more effective; hand scaling or using an ultrasonic? Through my research I learned that both are equally effective, but they are leaning more towards some of the slim tip ultrasonics for getting to more narrow, deep pocket. I'm glad that I chose this topic for my project, I found out a lot of very useful information.
Additional Information
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrQWcadyM7Q
Citation
Ultrasonic Scalers: Piezo vs. Magnetostrictive-Innotec Dental. (n.d.). Dental Unit,Equipment Manufacturer & Supplier-Innotec
Dental. Retrieved July 14, 2012, from http://www.innotecdt.com/news/Ultrasonic