Dental Hygiene |
Pacemakers06/03/2008 |
I was told by another hygienist that you shouldn`t operate the ultrasonic instrument bath near a patient with a pacemaker. I had never heard of this in my 34 years as a hygienist. Is there any truth to this?
It was true 20 years ago. Pacemakers placed after the mid 80s are typically "shielded" and are protected against ultrasonic waves. If the pacemaker was placed after the mid 80s, there should be no problems.
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Michele P Carr, RDH, MA Associate Professor of Dental Hygiene Associate Professor of HS Nursing Quality & Research College of Dentistry The Ohio State University |