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Ultrasonic dental scaler: associated hazards
1The School of Dentistry, The University of Birmingham, St Chad's Queensway, Birmingham B4 6NN, UK.
Journal of Clinical Periodontology
|March 8, 2003
Summary
Ultrasonic dental scalers, while crucial for preventing periodontal disease, pose risks like tooth heating, cell disruption, and aerosol release. This review assesses these hazards and suggests future research for safer dental practices.
Area of Science:
- Dental hygiene
- Periodontology
- Biomedical engineering
Background:
- Ultrasonic dental scalers are essential for periodontal disease prevention.
- Associated hazards include tooth heating, cell disruption, cavitation, electromagnetic fields, auditory damage, and bacterial aerosol release.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review existing research on ultrasonic dental scaler hazards.
- To identify areas for future research and clinical recommendations.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive literature search of scientific databases (Web of Science, EMBASE, Medline).
- Hand-searching of results to ensure relevance.
Main Results:
- The review synthesizes research on the clinical significance of scaler-associated hazards.
- Identifies potential risks to patients and dental professionals.
Conclusions:
- Highlights the need for continued research into ultrasonic scaler safety.
- Provides recommendations for mitigating identified hazards in clinical settings.