Chapter 24 - Ultrasonic dental instrumentation

Ultrasound is used in dentistry to remove hard deposits that build up on the teeth over time. It is also used to remove the biofilm that forms on hard and soft tissues and is the cause of disease and infection in the mouth. The versatility of power ultrasonics is seen in its ability to chip hard deposits from the teeth and remove infected debris from the root canals. Cavitation and streaming forces in the associated cooling water provide improved cleaning forces and are useful to reach inaccessible areas in and around the teeth. The subject also is interdisciplinary as the solving of clinical problems requires the interaction of clinicians and physical scientists. The continual refinement and development of new instruments make this an exciting area of the application of power ultrasonics.