Numerical investigation of cavitation generated by an ultrasonic dental scaler tip vibrating in a compressible liquid

This study presents a numerical investigation of cavitation generated by an ultrasonic dental scaler tip vibrating in a compressible liquid using the finite element method.

The research addresses the problem of bacterial biofilm accumulation around dental implants, which can lead to peri-implant diseases and implant failure. While cavitation from ultrasonic scaler tips could potentially remove debris without damaging implant surfaces, current instruments provide insufficient cavitation.

The researchers developed a three-dimensional model using ABAQUS software to simulate the interaction between the vibrating scaler tip, water flow, and cavitation formation. After validating their model against experimental data, they conducted a systematic parametric study examining how frequency, amplitude, and power of tip vibration affect cavitation volume. The results showed that cavitation increases with both frequency and amplitude of vibration. However, when the frequency deviates significantly from the natural frequency of the scaler tip, cavitation around the free end decreases due to reduced vibration amplitude.

This research provides insights for optimizing dental ultrasonic scalers to potentially enable non-contact cleaning of dental implants through enhanced cavitation, offering a novel approach to preventing implant failure without causing surface damage.