My dentist used a "sonic tool" on my teeth. It sounded like a drill. It felt like a drill. Was it a drill?
Question:
Answers:
No, it's not a drill.
As mentioned above, it's a cavitron scaling machine, and what it does is it vibrates very fast, generally around the 30K to 40K frequency range. The vibration and water spray combines to knock loose any crusty tartar that's stuck on your teeth, and flushes away plaque.
You might feel discomfort from it because it's knocking tartar off your tooth roots, which are sensitive because roots do not have a layer of enamel insulating it.
The cavitron used for cleanings do not take away any tooth structure. Endodontists (root canal specialists) do have higher-powered ultrasonic instruments that can cut into dentin though.
Hope this helps.
It's called a cavitron and it's used if the pt has alot of plague around and inbetween the teeth.
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