1. Working principle of ultrasonic tooth cleaner and overview of dental plaque
Ultrasonic tooth cleaner mainly works on the principle of ultrasonic vibration. The ultrasonic transducer inside it converts electrical energy into high-frequency mechanical vibration and transmits it to the tooth surface through the working tip. Dental plaque is a bacterial biofilm attached to the surface of teeth. It can be divided into many types according to factors such as its formation time and location. For example, supragingival plaque is mainly located on the crown surface above the gingival margin, while subgingival plaque is hidden in the gingival sulcus and is closely related to periodontal tissue diseases. Different types of dental plaque differ in structure, composition and degree of attachment, which makes the action mode and effect of ultrasonic tooth cleaner on them different.
2. Effect on supragingival plaque
For supragingival plaque, ultrasonic tooth cleaner can play a more effective role due to its relatively exposed position. When the high-frequency vibrating working tip contacts supragingival plaque, it can break and peel the plaque from the tooth surface through the force of mechanical vibration. The ultrasonic cavitation effect it produces also helps to destroy the biofilm structure of the plaque, causing the bacteria in the plaque to lose their attachment basis and disperse. At the same time, the accompanying water flushing effect can promptly wash away the broken and peeled plaque to prevent it from attaching again. Under normal circumstances, after standardized ultrasonic cleaning operations, supragingival plaque can be removed more thoroughly, the tooth surface is restored to a smooth and clean state, and the occurrence of oral diseases such as caries is effectively prevented.
3. Challenges and effects on subgingival plaque
However, subgingival plaque is located in the gingival sulcus, where the space is relatively narrow and hidden, which poses certain challenges to the role of ultrasonic tooth cleaner. Although the working tip can penetrate the gingival sulcus to a certain extent, it is difficult to clean it as comprehensively and thoroughly as supragingival plaque due to the limitations of angle and operating space. Moreover, subgingival plaque is more closely attached to the root surface and periodontal tissue, and its composition is more complex, containing more harmful substances such as bacterial toxins. When dealing with subgingival plaque, although ultrasonic cleaners can still play a certain role in destruction and removal through vibration and cavitation effects, it is often difficult to completely remove it. It is necessary to combine other professional oral treatment methods such as subgingival scraping to better control subgingival plaque and maintain the health of periodontal tissues.
4. Factors affecting cleaning effect and optimization direction
The difference in the effect of ultrasonic tooth cleaner on different types of dental plaque is also affected by many factors. For example, the high and low frequency of ultrasound, the shape and material of the working tip, the power during operation, and the user's operating skills. In order to improve the cleaning effect of various types of dental plaque, you can start with optimizing these factors. Develop working tip shapes that are more suitable for different cleaning parts, such as designing a more slender and flexible working tip for subgingival cleaning; accurately control the ultrasonic frequency to find the optimal frequency range for different types of plaque; improve the quality of user operation training so that it can reasonably adjust the power and operating angle according to the patient's oral condition, thereby enhancing the overall effect and application value of ultrasonic tooth cleaner in the field of oral cleaning.
