公开(公告)号：WO1990004950A1

公开(公告)日：1990-05-17

申请号：PCT/US1988004041

申请日：1988-11-10

Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON

Inventor： UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON ,  ENGEL, David ,  MARTIN, Roy, W. ,  MILLER, Josef, M.

IPC: A61C03/03

CPC classification number: A61C17/20

Abstract: A method and apparatus for demobilizing the motile subgingival bacteria and for removing soft plaque from the teeth on a substantially daily basis as a means to prevent, treat and/or limit periodontal diseases. A piezoelectric multimorph transducer (24) is used to generate low-energy vibrations, these vibrations are applied to the teeth and gingival fluids to cause mild cavitation within the fluid to remove subgingival plaque and to demobilize motile bacteria. Means (28) for driving the transducer at its resonant frequency or multiples thereof and for electrically isolating the user are included.