Oscillating circuit for ultrasonic dental scaler

An ultrasonic dental scaler comprising:

• a handpiece adapted for removably receiving a dental scaler insert;
• an energizing coil having a first impedance mounted on said handpiece, the energizing coil being adapted for surrounding a scaler insert removably positioned on said handpiece;
• and
• means for oscillating a scaler insert, received by said handpiece, the oscillating means comprising a transistor oscillator and a transformer for providing feedback to said transistor oscillator, the oscillating means providing power to the energizing coil, said energizing coil having a second impedance in response to a scaler insert positioned within said energizing coil such that said second impedance affects the feedback from the transformer to the transistor oscillator to thereby automatically tune the oscillating means to vibrate a scaler insert at its resonant frequency.

An ultrasonic dental scaler comprising:

• a handpiece adapted for removably receiving a dental scaler insert;
• an energizing coil having a first impedance mounted on said handpiece, the energizing coil being adapted for surrounding a scaler insert removably positioned on said handpiece;
• and
• means for oscillating the scaler insert, the oscillating means providing power to the energizing coil, said energizing coil having a second impedance in response to a scaler insert positioned within said energizing coil such that said oscillating means is automatically tuned to vibrate a scaler insert at a resonant frequency in response to said second impedance of said energizing coil, and wherein the oscillating means further includes a two position frequency adjustment switch for setting a first and second frequency of oscillation to operate dental scaler inserts having substantially different mechanical resonant frequencies.

An ultrasonic dental scaler comprising:

• a handpiece adapted for removably receiving a magnetostrictive dental scaler insert;
• energizing means on the handpiece selectively positioned with respect to a dental scaler insert received by the handpiece;
• and
• means for oscillating the scaler insert, the oscillating means including a transistor oscillator and a transformer, the transformer coupled to and providing feedback to said transistor oscillator, the oscillating means providing power to the energizing means, the energizing means being responsive to the selective positioning of the dental scaler insert received by the handpiece such that the oscillating means is automatically tuned to vibrate said dental scaler insert at a resonant frequency in response to said energizing means affecting said transformer feedback to the transistor oscillator.

A method of vibrating a dental scaler insert having a scaler tip comprising the steps of:

• (1) providing a dental scaler device including a handpiece adapted for removable receiving a dental scaler insert, energizing means on the handpiece selectively positioned with respect to a dental scaler insert received by the handpiece and means for oscillating the scaler insert, the oscillating means providing power to the energizing means;
• (2) providing a means for setting at least a first and second frequency of oscillation;
• (3) selecting a dental scaler insert having a desired resonant frequency of oscillation associated therewith;
• (4) positioning said setting means to correspond to the selected resonant frequency of oscillation of the scaler insert;
• and
• (5) inserting the dental scaler insert within the handpiece whereby the energizing means is responsive to the selective positioning of the dental scaler insert received by the handpiece such that the oscillating means is automatically tuned to vibrate said dental scaler insert at a resonant frequency in response to said energizing means.