Dental instruments have special kinds of dirt and debris clinging unto them. One might think that using conventional cleaning solutions and the “good ol’ scrub n’ rub” that we’re used to is enough. But no matter how hard you scrub the equipment’s surface, blood and saliva are too tough of a stain to handle.
Fortunately for us, our advancements and innovations in the field of dental science has brought more efficient means of cleaning dental apparatuses. Ultrasonic cleaners, which are used worldwide.
What are Ultrasonic Cleaners?
Ultrasonic cleaners are a type of cleaning unit that gets rid of bioburden via utilising sound waves that are generated by energy. They are accompanied by specialised liquid cleaning solutions, specifically made for decontaminating dental instruments and maintaining their pristine condition for as long as possible.
Fast forward to 1960 and a new group of enzymatic cleaners were made. It was later discovered that when it’s combined with commercial laundry detergents, the enzymes significantly improved the cleaning solution’s effectiveness to purify dental equipment. Nowadays, the solutions used by modern ultrasonic cleaners are more potent ingredients classified as dual-enzymatic cleaners, which is capable for a more effective clean to instruments.
How do they Work?
The cleaning process of ultrasonic cleaners is quite unique and mind-blowing. As mentioned, these types of dental instrument cleaners use sound waves to purify contaminants on the item’s surface, but we never really got into much detail of how the soundwaves act during and how they initiate the cleaning phase. It’s quite a powerful process and it’s no wonder why this method as the number one cleaning phase in all dental clinics.
First, the sound waves are generated by the machine’s electrical energy. Then, the sound waves begin to move, and as they travel through the liquid cleaning solution, their motion causes millions of tiny bubbles to form and burst, in a process of cavitation and implosion. Lastly, we get to the actual cleaning part. The implosion caused by the sound waves break the chemical bonds that hold the contaminants/debris together, which is latched onto the dental instruments surface, effectively breaking them down and removing them.
Benefits of Ultrasonic Cleaners
Cleaning will always be the main advantage that ultrasonic cleaners have, but they do offer a lot more. Similar to how dental chairs help dentists communicate with patients in a subtle way, ultrasonic cleaners have other great benefits that one might know about the first time:
• Full-Body Cleaning – Since the dental equipment will be submerged in water and cleaning solution, dentists can be 100% sure that anything the water touches gets cleaned.
• Efficient Use of Energy – Compared to jet washing that uses huge amounts of water, ultrasonic cleaners are more efficient with their energy consumption because they just have to vibrate and make soundwaves, not shoot a stream of water.
• Removes All Sorts of Contaminants – Ultrasonic cleaners are capable of removing oil, dirt, grease, and even bacteria. Hard to reach places wouldn’t be a problem.
• Repeatable and Automated – These special types of dental cleaners have a comparatively consistent and automated process for users. Its chemical additives, cycle times, power, and heat can all be regulated.
Hygiene is truly an important facet of any dental clinic, and the dental ultrasonics can help clean and maintain the cleanliness needed by the dental equipment. Ultrasonic cleaners is a must for any dental clinic and for the sanitation rooms that they have because they provide the best cleaning results—removing 100% of surface debris!
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