New research identifies role of tiny bubbles in teeth cleaning
Research into the science behind ultrasonic scalers, used by dental professionals to remove built up plaque, has identified that the formation of tiny bubbles around the head is key to the cleaning process.
The bubble formation of water around the head of the scaler was observed using high-speed cameras. Scalers of differing power, and head shape, were used and compared to quantify the patterns of cavitation.
The team believes that the methods developed in the study will help to test new instrument designs with the aim of designing ultrasonic scalers that operate without touching the tooth surface.
Professor Damien Walmsley, from the School of Dentistry at the University of Birmingham, explained: “Removing dental plaque and calculus, that is the build-up of what we know as tartar or hard plaque, is a big part of maintaining oral health and a regular occurrence in dental check-ups. These findings will help us to understand how to make the tools as effective as possible”.
The team was not only able to show that cavitation occurred at the free end of the tip, but that it increases with power, and the area and width of the cavitation cloud varies for different shaped tips.
Nina Vyas, lead author of the paper from the University of Birmingham, said: “Other studies we have done, using electron microscopy, have shown that removal of plaque biofilm is increased when cavitation is increased. Putting the pieces together, we can therefore say that altering the shape and power of these commonly used tools make them more effective, and hopefully, pain free”.