Published: 08-10-2024
Dental clinics use various tools for routine procedures like cleanings, fillings, root canals, extractions, and teeth whitening. Some tools in a dental office include mirrors, scalers, and polishers.
The water tool your dentist uses to clean teeth is called a scaler and comes in powered and manual models. Here’s more information about dental scalers, including the different types, what they’re used for, and how they work:
What Is a Dental Scaler?
A scaler is the tool your dentist uses to remove plaque buildup and clean your teeth. Various names, including an ultrasonic scaler or dental water jet know the device.
Powered scalers use ultrasonic frequencies to remove plaque and tartar deposits from your teeth. These scalers have various components, including the handpiece, tip, transducer, and water supply system. Other parts include the control unit, power code, tubing, and foot pedal.
The tip can reach tight areas below your gum line, and the water supply system sprays water and air into your mouth. The water and air cool the tool, wash your teeth, and help to wash away the removed deposits.
Manual scalers feature sharp pointed ends that scrape the plaque, tartar, and deposits from the surface of your teeth. Scalers also have a handle and shank and are compatible with various tip and blade variations.
How Do Dental Scalers Work?
Ultrasonic dental scalers work by combining high-frequency vibrations and water streams. The scaler’s tip vibrates at unique ultrasonic frequencies that break loose the plaque, tartar, and stains on your tooth’s surface.
Piezoelectric ultrasonic scalers use crystal vibrations that create linear motions while magnetostrictive scalers produce circular motions.
As the tip vibrates, the tool sprays a fine mist of water to cool the heat produced by the friction and flush away the dislodged debris and bacteria.
Manual scalers rely on the hand movements of the dental professional. The precise hand movements and sharp tip combine to provide a scraping action that removes hardened plaque from your teeth.
Manual scalers don’t have a built-in water spraying mechanism, resulting in longer cleaning treatments because the tool relies on the doctor’s or dental assistant's dexterity.
What Are Dental Scalers Used For?
Dental scalers are primarily used to clean the surface of your teeth. Subgingival cleaning involves cleaning below your gum line, around the root surface, and in between periodontal pockets. Ultrasonic scalers are the preferred tool for such procedures and remove plaque and tartar more effectively than manual tools.
Manual scalers are used for supragingival cleaning, which involves removing hardened stains and buildup along the teeth and above the gum line.
Traditional scalers can come with straight and curved tips to improve their reach.
Scalers are used during various dental procedures, from emergency and cosmetic odontology to teeth whitening, root canals, and standard cleanings.
The tools are also used during crown and bridge maintenance and the treatment of gingivitis. Plaque and tartar cleaning is a standard procedure in various dental services, including examinations, fittings, and implants.
Find an Experienced Dentist Today
Professional dental services help to maintain your oral health by preventing and curing various issues. If you need veneers, crowns, clear aligners, or teeth whitening, choose an experienced dental clinic that offers a range of services.
Contact a reputable dentist today to learn more about scalers and other equipment used during dental procedures.
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