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Today I write you about Ultrasonic energy in dentistry.  If you have been asleep for the past 50 years you will likely have you teeth cleaned via the use of either a sonic or ultrasonic instrument.  It is a very high speed tool that essentially melts the stain and tartar from your teeth.  These two types of instruments move so quickly that the eye cannot see the movement and the ear hears the sound of mosquito buzzing.  The speed of the tool is what does the work.  This technology has found it’s way into another realm of dentistry - bone surgery.  Again the super speed does the work and not the “muscle power” of the operator as in the “old days”.  It is so much more pleasurable to have these tools used for you and on you compared to the old more strong armed manual way that there is just no comparison.

Ultrasonics are also used for the cleaning of the sharp little instruments used in dental and other practices.  These high frequency sound waves vibrate the debris from the instruments better than any scrub brush can.  The waves can get into the microscopic nooks and crannies to get the most stubborn matter out.

Another use of sound is in Through Transmission Attenuated Ultrasound.  Here a therapist uses a sender (transducer) and a capture device to image the porosity of the jaw bones.  This is then interpretted as healthy or diseased bone and the decision is then made to treat a particular area that is affected. 

And lastly, medical ultrasound is used to internally heat up the tissues beneath the application head.  Perhaps you have had this for a back injury for example.  The sound waves vibrate the liquid component of the tissue so quickly tht it warms up and this in turn causes an increase in the blood flow of the affected area.  This might be used for the treatment of what are commonly called TMJ disorders.  Here the muscles are warmed up to release muscle spasms that are responsible for the pain.

For more information please contact Dr. Nicholas Meyer at DrMeyer@milldental.com.

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