W&H Impex
Piezo scalers – safe for use on patients with cardiac pacemakers
W&H is the first manufacturer to confirm that W&H piezo scalers can be used on patients with cardiac pacemakers without any concerns. In the past, treatment with electrically operated ultrasound devices was seen as a possible source of interference for cardiac pacemakers, which thus may have posed a risk for the patient. With an independent expert opinion on piezo scalers, W&H is now giving users the necessary security for prophylaxis treatment of patients with cardiac pacemakers without any concerns.
Expert’s report: security for prophylaxis treatment
The Tigon+, Tigon, Pyon 2 and Built-in piezo scalers from W&H have been checked by an independent expert to confirm that patients with cardiac pacemakers can now also have access to as atraumatic and effective a prophylaxis treatment as possible in every situation. The electromagnetic compatibility of the W&H devices with cardiac pacemakers was tested in a procedure that measured the electromagnetic fields generated by the W&H piezo scalers around both the handpieces and the control units.
The expert’s report clearly shows that the values measured for the W&H units are substantially below the maximum values permitted for cardiac pacemakers. As such, it is possible to rule out W&H piezo scalers interfering with cardiac pacemakers. Thanks to this expert opinion, dental hygienists can now concentrate fully on the patient and safe and atraumatic treatment.
Barbara Schwark,
praxisHochschule University of Applied Sciences in Cologne/Heidelberg, Germany
"In the past, the matter of “use of ultrasound of patients with cardiac pacemakers” was a regular topic of discussion in dental practices, at exhibitions and at training events, often with completely contrary opinions. The spectrum ranged from worst case scenarios right up to complete dismissal and disputing of any possible risks. However, there were never any reliable studies and, as such, no absolute security. Like many of my colleagues, I have thus always gone for the safer option in the past and in case of doubt elected the more time-consuming and labour-intensive route without the use of ultrasound instruments. W&H took our concerns and the desire for higher safety to heart and commissioned an independent expert opinion.
I’m very impressed! It’s now clear that the W&H piezo scalers are safe for use on patients with cardiac pacemakers without any concerns!"
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