The Cavitron is an ultrasonic scaler, which helps to gently break up calcified plaque deposits (tartar) and flush away plaque and bacteria from under the gum line. This great piece of technology uses a stack of magnets to vibrate a rounded metal tip faster than the speed of sound. This vibration disrupts bacterial colonies to clean the teeth. Then, the flow of water not only cools the tip (that fast vibration can generate a lot of heat without water!), but it also flushes away those bacteria and any other debris from below the gums and between the teeth.
Ultrasonic scalers are beneficial for many reasons. First of all, because they do not use a sharp edge, they are gentler on the gums as well as the enamel of the teeth. In this way, they generally provide a more comfortable cleaning. The instrument also introduces oxygen below the gums, which helps to kill the bacteria which live there and improve the health of the tissue. The Cavitron also makes for a much faster cleaning, which is something we can all appreciate.