Treatment for periodontal disease has come a long way since it was first discovered in 1890. First called Riggs disease after the doctor who discovered it, the usual treatment consisted of a daily rinse with 156 proof mouthwash. In theory, this high-octane treatment method eradicated all bacteria and deterred plaque formation. These days, treatment for periodontal disease includes a full-mouth debridement. Cavitron powered cleaning, however, is gaining momentum as another great way to safely treat periodontal disease.

What is the Cavitron cleaning system?

The Cavitron cleaning system is an ultrasonic scaler that uses vibrations to break up and remove debris from your teeth. Also known as a power scaler, a dental Cavitron can also kill the pathogens that are thought to be responsible for periodontal disease.

Cavitron powered cleaning uses both vibrations and water to break up deposits below the gumline. The vibrations remove the hardened tartar, and the water continuously flushes the deposits away. The water also creates millions of small bubbles. This effect, called cavitation, has been shown to break up the cell walls of harmful bacteria before flushing them away.

The use of power scalers to clean both above and below the gumline has only been in practice since the 1950s. In combination with other treatments, Cavitron dental cleaning has become the standard of care for periodontal disease.

What is a Cavitron used for?

A Cavitron is used for a number of reasons, including:

  • Periodontal disease
  • Tooth stain removal
  • Preventative care
  • Care for patients who are afraid of needles
  • Gingival deposits

Periodontal disease

Periodontal disease affects approximately half of all people in the U.S.

Beginning as a mild gum inflammation that opens up pockets in the gumline, periodontal disease accelerates rapidly from there. The gingival pockets begin to fill up with bacteria. These bacteria begin to attack gum tissue and bone.

This can lead to:

A Cavitron dental cleaning flushes out bacteria-filled pockets and removes tartar build up so that the gum can reattach to the tooth. This prevents pockets from reforming.

Stain removal

Stubborn extrinsic stains may be treated with a Cavitron cleaning as well.

The combination of rapid ultrasonic vibrations and water may be able to remove stains that other treatments cannot. This is a good interim step to try if professional teeth whitening treatments were not effective but veneers or crowns are not optimal.

Preventative dental care

There is some indication that there is a genetic component to periodontal disease. While genes aren’t the whole story, many patients with a family history of periodontal disease can benefit from a Cavitron dental cleaning. This type of preventative dental care is a way to prevent disease before it can take root.

For patients who don’t like to spend a lot of time in the dentist’s chair for their deep cleanings, a Cavitron powered cleaning may also be the way to go. The strong ultrasonic vibrations and water make the cleaning more efficient. A Cavitron removes more debris in less time than a hand scaler can.

Patients who are afraid of needles

In many cases, a Cavitron dental cleaning is completely painless.

It is often at least mild enough for patients with a fear of needles to tolerate without receiving injections of local anesth