Ultrasonic Scaler

Gum disease is a serious oral health issue. While the earliest stage is easily reversed with at home care, this stage is often missed. With the symptoms ignored, gum disease only gets worse. To stop the disease, and allow your gums to heal, professional treatment is required. At Bisson Dentistry, we can treat your gum disease with scaling and root planing. For your scaling treatment, we employ the use of an ultrasonic scaler.

The Progression of Gum Disease

Gum disease starts as gingivitis. Symptoms—red, swollen gums that often bleed when you brush—often go unnoticed. Swollen gums pull away from your teeth, leaving pockets for bacteria to fall into. Below the gum line, bacteria attack your jawbone and the structures that support your teeth. The bone and structures weaken. Your gums recede, your teeth become loose, and they may even fall out.

Scaling and Root Planing

Scaling and root planing is a procedure designed to clean the surfaces of your teeth and smooth the surfaces of your roots. Scaling removes tartar, or hardened plaque (which cannot be removed with a toothbrush), plaque and bacteria from the visible surfaces of your teeth, as well as between them and below the gum line. Root planing smooths the surfaces of your roots to prevent new buildup. The area between your teeth and gums is washed with an antibacterial agent to kill any lingering bacteria.

What is an ultrasonic scaler?

Traditionally, scaling has been done with a metal instrument. While this tool can be effective, it can cause a significant amount of pain, and cause even more trauma to the gum tissue as it moves against your teeth. Over time, technological advances have led to the ultrasonic scaler. This tool relies on low-frequency sound waves to vibrate against your teeth, effectively removing difficult tartar buildup.

There are two types of the ultrasonic scaler. The magnetostrictive model operates at about 25,000 to 30,000 cycles per second, the head moving in a circular motion. The piezoelectric scaler moves at 28,000 to 36,000 cycles per second, while the tip vibrates back and forth against the tooth. Ultrasonic scalers are equipped with a built-in sprayer, which allows us to deliver the antibacterial rinse below your gums as we work.

Benefits of Ultrasonic Scaling

With the rise of ultrasonic scalers, we are better able to effectively, and completely, treat your gum disease and allow your gums to heal. The use of an ultrasonic scaler has numerous benefits:

•	They are less painful than using a traditional scaling tool. Less trauma will be experienced by your already sensitive gum tissue.
•	They are more effective at removing tartar buildup than a manual scraper.
•	The spray tip allows us to clean your teeth of debris as we work. The sprayer can administer water or an antibacterial agent.
•	Surface stains can be removed in the process, giving your teeth a whiter sheen.
•	You spend less time in the dentist chair. With a shorter appointment, less of your time is taken up.

If you are suffering from gum disease, treatment is required. Call Bisson Dentistry at (226) 299-0713 today to find out if the use of an ultrasonic scaler can help you to heal.

Our OFFICE HOURS

Monday

8AM–5PM

Tuesday

8AM–5PM

Wednesday

8AM–7PM

Thursday

8AM–7PM

Friday

8AM–2PM

Saturday

Closed

Sunday

Closed

199 Woolwich Street,
Guelph, ON N1H 3V4
(226) 299-0713