544 The Science -How Ultrasonics Actually Work: Amplitude, Frequency, and Cleaning Efficiency
A Tale of Two Hygienists Podcast
Release Date: 06/24/2026
A Tale of Two Hygienists Podcast
In this episode of A Tale of Two Hygienists, Jessica and Dave explore what happens after assessment and diagnosis: turning clinical findings into meaningful, individualized care. Karen Palleschi and Jennifer Pieren discuss how dental hygienists can use critical thinking, clinical judgment, and the ADHA Standards of Care to create person-centered plans that reflect each patient's needs, values, risks, and goals. What We Talked About: Translating assessment findings into meaningful dental hygiene diagnoses Building individualized, person-centered care plans instead of...
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Assessment and diagnosis are at the heart of patient-centered dental hygiene care. In this episode of A Tale of Two Hygienists, Jessica and Dave are joined by JoAnn Gurenlian, Ann Eshenaur Spolarich, and Darlene Swigart to explore how dental hygienists can move beyond simply collecting patient data to interpreting findings, developing accurate dental hygiene diagnoses, and making informed clinical decisions. The conversation examines the critical-thinking skills needed to connect assessment findings to treatment planning, documentation, and improved patient outcomes while also...
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JoAnn Gurenlian joins Jessica and Dave for a practical conversation about the purpose, evolution, and everyday importance of the Standards for Clinical Dental Hygiene Practice. From understanding the difference between standards of care and scope of practice to applying professional standards in real-world clinical situations, this episode explores how standards can help dental hygienists strengthen clinical judgment, documentation, ethical decision-making, and patient outcomes. What We Talked About The purpose and evolution of the Standards for Clinical Dental Hygiene Practice...
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Every patient who sits in our chair brings more than just a mouth with them. Hormones, bone health, medications, and life stage can all influence what we see clinically. In this episode, Jessica and Dave explore the connection between hormonal changes, bone health, and oral health—and why dental hygienists play an important role in recognizing the clues, starting conversations, and helping patients get the care they need. What We Talked About: How hormones and bone health influence oral health throughout a patient’s lifetime What clinicians may notice during puberty,...
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Jessica and Dave welcome Dr. Pamela Ray to discuss how hygienists can improve periodontal communication, help patients take ownership of their disease, and guide them toward informed decisions about their health. This episode was brought to you by our friends at Net32. What We Talked About: Overcoming barriers to periodontal treatment acceptance. Using the oral-systemic connection to motivate patients. Effective language and communication strategies. Strengthening communication with periodontists, physicians, and referral sources. Handling patients who delay...
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Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) affect millions of patients, yet they remain widely misunderstood. In this episode, Jessica and Dave explore a new way of thinking about TMD with Dr. Anthony Urbanek. After 36 years of performing TMJ surgery, Dr. Urbanek stopped and began researching the disease to better understand its causes and develop a nonsurgical approach. What We Talked About: Why the traditional TMD treatment paradigm needs to change Common myths and misconceptions about TMD The connection between occlusion, muscles, joints, inflammation, and symptoms...
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In this tipisode, Amanda Hill - RDH explores the importance of biology-driven home care recommendations and why a one-size-fits-all approach may not meet every patient’s needs. From chronic inflammation and acute healing to xerostomia and remineralization, Amanda discusses how hygienists can match home care products to each patient’s unique biology. She highlights the important role of saliva in oral health and shares strategies for supporting patients during the many months between dental hygiene visits. The takeaway: Assess first, choose products second, and build a home care protocol...
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Orthodontic treatment can make oral hygiene more challenging, with brackets and aligner attachments creating areas where biofilm can accumulate and contribute to demineralization and white spot lesions. This episode was brought to you by our friends at Solventum. In this episode, Jessica Atkinson and Dave Torres discuss the role of fluoride in orthodontic prevention and how Solventum™ Clinpro™ Clear can help protect enamel while fitting seamlessly into clinical workflows. What We Talked About Why brackets and aligner attachments make oral hygiene more difficult....
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Jessica and Dave welcome Judy Carroll, RDH, Founder and Clinical Director of PerioPeak Innovations, to discuss how periodontal endoscopy is changing the way hygienists assess and treat periodontal disease. With 36 years of clinical experience, Judy shares her expertise on: How periodontal endoscopy works and its evolution in hygiene. How visualization can improve clinical decision-making and calculus detection. The connection between endoscopy, biofilm management, and periodontal outcomes. Common misconceptions, barriers, and training considerations. ...
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On this episode of A Tale of Two Hygienists, Jessica and Dave sit down with a dental professional who has spent more than 20 years in hygiene and noticed a recurring problem: patients whose bruxism and wear patterns pointed to possible airway issues were being referred for sleep evaluations, but too often never completed the process. That frustration led to the creation of Orasom Health, a platform designed to help dental teams support patients from the first airway red flags in the dental chair through screening, diagnosis, and treatment. What We Talked About How hygienists are...
info_outlineIn this episode of A Tale of Two Hygienists, Jessica and Dave welcome back Noel and Richard Paschke, better known as Mr. and Mrs. Ultrasonics.
Together, they break down the science behind ultrasonic instrumentation, separating fact from fiction on topics like frequency, amplitude, cavitation, cleaning efficiency, and clinical technique. Rich shares an engineer's perspective on how ultrasonic devices are designed, while Noel translates the physics into practical applications for today's clinician.
They also discuss common misconceptions about piezo and magnetostrictive units, how worn tips impact performance, and why understanding ultrasonic technology is essential for delivering better patient care.
In this episode, you'll learn:
The difference between frequency, amplitude, and cleaning efficiency
Why ultrasonic scaling is about more than simply turning up the power
Common myths surrounding cavitation and calculus removal
Key differences between piezo and magnetostrictive systems
How tip design, wear, and adaptation affect clinical outcomes
The latest innovations from the Paschkes, including cordless ultrasonics and a patent-pending piezo swivel handpiece.
Connect with Noel:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/noelpaschke/
Contact the Hosts:
Jessica Atkinson: [email protected]
Dave Torres: [email protected]