How does ultrasonic cavitation remove dental bacterial biofilm?

This study reveals how ultrasonic dental scalers remove bacterial biofilm through cavitation.

Using high-speed imaging, researchers observed Streptococcus sanguinis biofilm being disrupted by shape-oscillating bubbles and cavitation clouds within just 2 seconds. The bubbles, which reached speeds up to 68 mm/s on the surface, created shear stress that weakened biofilm structure before acoustic streaming completed the removal process. However, certain opaque biofilm clusters proved resistant to cavitation.

These findings offer valuable insights for improving non-contact dental cleaning techniques, particularly for dental implants where traditional metal-to-metal contact can cause surface damage. The research demonstrates the potential for rapid biofilm removal using ultrasonic cavitation with applications extending beyond dentistry to areas like marine biofouling and food industry decontamination.