Effects of Ultrasonic Debridement on Oral Hygiene Status

Abstract

The aim of this randomized-controlled, single-blinded study was to compare the effects of mechanical tooth cleaning (MTC) and ultrasonic debridement (UD) on oral hygiene status in healthy young adults. Thirty-seven participants (mean age: 20.3±0.62 years) were divided into 3 groups after pre-examination: group A, receiving MTC; B, receiving MTC+UD using a universal insert (UDUI); and C, receiving MTC+UD using a probe-shaped insert (UDPI). All participants were required to abstain from oral hygiene for 24 hours after the allocated intervention, after which they were examined. A masked examiner determined the Quigley-Hein plaque index (PlI) and Silness and Löe gingival index (GI) scores before the interventions and after 24 hours of non-brushing. A significant increase in the PlI score was observed in group A (p<0.001) in comparison with that in group B (A: 0.311±0.26; B: −0.01±0.33; C: 0.13±0.27; p<0.05). A significant decrease in the GI score was observed in groups B and C (p<0.05), and the change in this score in group C significantly differed from that in group A or B (A: −0.04±0.25; B: −0.13±0.17; C: −0.33±0.2; p<0.05). Only MTC was insufficient to prevent plaque formation over a 24-hour period of non-brushing and decrease the GI score. Ultrasonic debridement was more effective in preventing plaque formation and decreasing the GI score, regardless of the type of insert used. The present results suggest that UD should be included as an important procedure in the provision of professional oral prophylaxis and that UDPI is as efficient for cleaning as UDUI.

Comparison of the effects of ultrasound toothbrushes with different frequencies on oral hygiene: A randomized‐controlled clinical trial

“…In addition, daily exposure to ultrasound may alter the bacterial flora, leading to a reduction in the plaque formation rate. In professional oral prophylaxis, it is important to utilize the cavitation effects of an ultrasonic scaler for biofilm removal, rather than mechanical tooth cleaning 15 . Thus, the long‐term effects of invisible ultrasound exposure on bacterial flora and plaque formation should be evaluated.…”

Order out of Randomness: Self-Organization Processes in Astrophysics

“…For instance, the mean motions of the inner three Galilean satellites of Jupiter (Io, Europa, Ganymede) exhibit harmonic orbits with a very high precision (by nine significant digits; Peale 1976), a property that has been interpreted by Laplace (1829) as evidence for the high stability of resonant orbits. Besides the Galilean satellites, further orbital resonance commensurabilities were found for Saturn moons (Franklin et al 1971;Sinclair 1972;Greenberg 1973;Colombo et al 1974;Peale 1976), and for asteroids-Jupiter resonances such as the Trojans (Brown and Shook 1933;Takenouchi 1962;Schubart 1968;Sinclair 1969;Marsden 1970;Lecar and Franklin 1973;Franklin et al 1975;Peale 1976). Planetary rings have been found for all giant planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune).…”