Dentaltown March 2021 - 52

SPECIAL SECTION

Anybody Using Ultrasonics Yet?
A Townie wonders whether his hygienists should still be sticking
to hand-scaling in an effort to reduce aerosol production

drwalrustooth
Member Since: 01/26/16
Post: 1 of 7

New owner here. Took over the practice last month from the old doc.
As a precaution for COVID, the old doc told the hygienists to only hand-scale and not use
the ultrasonics. I have kept that precaution in place.
However, this week we have had some tough cases (around braces, heavy calculus loads, etc.)
where I really wish we could use one. I feel it would probably do a faster, better job, too.
Coronavirus cases are low in our rural area, but have been increasing steadily over the last
month and a half. So there is still a risk.
Anybody else using ultrasonics for cleanings yet? Or is it better to wait still? ■
8/25/2020

teethdood
Member Since: 12/29/05
Post: 2 of 7

I have been using ultrasonics in the past two months after hand-scaling for a month. I just couldn't
do it any longer and had to switch back. I do use 50ppm HOCl in the bottle, in the hope that the
generated HOCl aerosol will neutralize the coronavirus. Knock on wood, still COVID-negative. ■
8/25/2020

mistall
Member Since: 04/08/16
Post: 4 of 7

I left it up to my hygienists to make their own decisions, but I never stopped. I do a few SRP
cases every week. I've done a few on people getting their first cleanings in 20-plus years, and
would rather eat my shoes than hand-scale and root-plane 25-year-old calculus. Most of the time
the hygienists just hand-scale, but on the occasional harder case they'll reach for the Cavitron. ■
8/26/2020

echilds
Member Since: 04/06/06
Post: 5 of 7

I may be behind the times with many offices, but my hygienists are still not really using the
ultrasonic scaler or routinely polishing people's teeth. In the last several weeks, we've had an
increasing number of patients request (or demand ) that their teeth are polished at their hygiene
appointment. I have two regular hygienists and one that is here twice a month.
The part-timer works at another office and they really never changed anything-ultrasonics
and polishing have been a go since June or July. One of my full-time hygienists is willing to
ultrasonic and polish teeth on a patient need basis, meaning as she's hand-scaling if it's just too
much junk or she feels there's too much to hand-scale, she will use the ultrasonic or polisher.
My other hygienist is only going by the ADA/CDC guidelines, so reducing aerosols, not really
scaling and no ultrasonics.
Generally, it hasn't been a problem. However, when husband and wife couples or families
with multiple kids come in and don't necessarily get the same treatment during their hygiene
appointment, it's led to some issues with patients wondering what service they are really getting.
(I know that hand scaling is hard work, but the patients don't.)
My question is, how many of you are back to normal? How many are case-by-case basis?
How many are not ultrasonic scaling or polishing in hygiene? I know I can't make a policy to
do it, since there are recommended guidelines out there that we're encouraged to follow. Should
I just tell patients they can see one of the hygienists who will do those procedures as needed and
wait for an opening there? Should I tell my other hygienist to suck it up and start getting back
into it? Just wondering how some of you would handle things? ■
1/12/2021

MARCH 2021 // dentaltown.com

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2/18/21 10:38 AM

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Dentaltown March 2021

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