ultrasonic teeth cleaning

[Guest guest]

Has anyone gone to a dentist and had an ultrasonic teeth cleaning instead of a

manual scaling? If so were you cut up by it? How long did it take?

I recently went to a new dentist for a cleaning only. Before I saw the dentist

the hygienist said I had to have mandatory x-rays taken. I have heard from

another dentist that x-rays are mandatory by law in California. However,

recently I checked with the California Dental Board and they say it does not

require them by law, but it is good practice. The American Dental Association

said they do not know of any mandatory law requiring x-rays. I am perplexed

that dentists in CA are saying it is the law...

Anyway, the x-rays took time as did the 30 minutes waiting in the waiting room.

The new dentist said I had great teeth. They are good. My family all wore

braces but my teeth were naturally straight so I was surprised when she spent

time trying to sell me Invisiline(?) braces saying my friends would wonder why

I looked so good, younger, because every tooth would reflect light creating a

fantastic smile. I thought it was a poor sales job and it seemed like she was

not happy that I was only there for a cleaning.

Next she wanted to use an ultrasonic teeth cleaning device because she said my

teeth were in great condition and it would feel like a spa treatment. Her

customers loved it. She showed me the device and said the tip was sharper than

a manual scaler. I was concerned that it could cut me if it was so sharp, but

she said it only shot water out of the tip that would vibrate and dislodge any

plaque. I had no visible plaque except for one area which was why I went. So

she moved quickly, approximately a couple seconds per tooth, finishing the upper

jaw in seconds, not minutes. She never did the inside of the teeth, just the

outside. But as she moved quickly, her hand shook and she repeatedly hit my

gums with the tip. It felt like a pin prick each moment but it did not draw

blood until she got to the lower jaw.

At the lower jaw I lifted a hand mirror and saw how her hand was shaking. She

was maybe 40 – 45 yrs. old so I assumed it was the device causing the

movement. She stabbed the gum line repeatedly under 3 teeth within seconds

before I got my hand up to stop her. When I asked if she could slow down or go

more carefully to avoid cutting me, she said with a lot of emotion that I

wasn’t cut. There was blood around the 3 teeth at the gum line which I pointed

to. She said she didn’t see the blood as she pushed her chair away quickly and

clearly did not want to look at the teeth. I said I wanted her to go more

gently but she said she was not going to finish and when I asked why, she said

she was not having this conversation.

Before I could say anything more two girls appeared quickly pushing the

equipment away from me. When I asked if they saw what happened and I asked, what

is wrong with her? They said they didn’t see anything. It was very strange

like something from Candid Camera except the behavior was real.

I would love to know anyone else’s experience with a dentist who used an

ultrasonic cleaner. This morning I heard from the CA Dental Hygiene office that

the ultrasonic device can pit, burn, and cut. It sure doesn’t seem like any

spa treatment.

Thanks, Jess in CA