What are the differences in quality of teeth cleaning between the original method of scraping with equipment?

Question

and the intense water spraying method that I feel is used out of laziness and does not do as good a job. The dentist told me it does a BETTER job, so I would appreciate the real scoop from those who aren't taking the easy way out. I want to know which is the most through, etc. And what the pros and cons are-thanks

Answer 1

The "water" method is actually an ultrasonic cleaner that acts like a small jackhammer, and it is effective for cleaning plaque above the gumline. However, as a dentist, I feel that it is not appropriate for all cases. Some people just have stubborn tartar and an ultrasonic cleaner just doesn't cut it. For plaque and tartar below the gumline, especially very far below, I don't use the cleaner becuase it may damage the attachment of teeth to the soft tissue. Sometimes, handscalers are just what are best for the patient. I'm sorry it's uncomfortable, BTW I'm a dentist, and I HATE getting my teeth cleaned or drilled on too!

Answer 2

intense water spraying=ultrasonic scaler as robert puts it= jack hammer with lots of water spray.

"water" (ultrasonic)
pros: Quicker, and more efficient. Less painful, special tips allow access to areas that are very difficult to scale with a manual scaler.
Cons: sprays water everywhere(some patients swallow all the time :( , Microscopically with SEM enamel/cementum can be damaged with ultrasonic (ultrasonic originally designed to remove decay) but this damage is neglegable.
Can overheat, some types can interfere with pacemaker function.


Scraping equipment (hand scalers):
Pros: microscopically a smoother result, although evidence shows that smoothness is not a requirement for periodontal health, many scalers which are made for specific areas of the tooth.
Cons, Takes longer; Patients don't like the scraping feeling, Carpal tunnel syndrome, Higher chance of getting a sharps injury, Need to be sharpened all the time,

There is research which concludes that one or the other is not better/thorough and a combination of both should be used.

Ultrasonics are much better for general cleans when patients dont' have too much tartar. because it removes everything without the trauma

Answer 3

The use of ultrasonic and power instruments to perform a dental cleaning is not the LAZY WAY of cleaning teeth. If you look at clinical research preformed independently by dental universities etc... it has been prov en beyond the shadow of a doubt that the most efficient way of cleaning the entire tooth structure is to use both power and hand instruments as opposed to just one or the other. Ultrasonic instruments use sonic technology that can reach beyond what a hand instrument can as well as some areas of the mouth a hand instrument can better access tight contacts like in the lower teeth in the front of the mouth. The water component of the ultrasonic instrument also helps to flush the bacteria and debris out of the tissue around the tooth rather than scraping the tooth by hand and leaving that bacteria there. I have worked in dentistry for 12 years and I will tell you from a hygienist's perspective I find calculus (hard deposit) left behind on patients who have only had hand instrumentation only for their dental cleanings.

Answer 4

The new method of the water spraying combined with the tool they use with it is far more effective at getting the plaque and tartar below the gumline. There is only so far they can shove that metal scraper up there and it hurts! The water method is far easier to tolerate for me too.

Answer 5

some of the sprays can and cant get into the teeth and some times you need to have them checked to make sure that you dont get holes or cavities in the teeth

Answer 6

SCRAPING THE ENAMEL OFF THE TEETH ....NOT GOOD