Jahn, C. (2010). The dental water jet: A historical review of the literature.

Journal Of

Dental Hygiene, 84(3), 114-120.

The article is a review of papers that discuss the function and effectiveness of

dental water jets over the years. The first time a water jet was used for dental purposes

was in the 1960s. The two main mechanisms for action are pulsation and pressure. The

combination of these mechanisms create compression and decompression of the tissue

allowing subgingival bacteria and other debris to expel from the tissue. It also creates

stimulation of the gingival tissue. The machine should be set at medium (approximately

70-90 psi) for optimal use. The water or other solutions used in the water jet create

irrigation of the sulcus. Other solutions that can be used in the water jet include

antimicrobial rinses such as chlorhexidine. Research shows that using water is just as

effective as using a rinse in the water jet, this is because the efficacy is related to the

mechanism of action rather than the agent being used. Research states, water jets when

used in combination with tooth brushing show significant reductions in plaque, bleeding,

and gingivitis. One study took people who received scaling and root planning and placed

them in to two groups, one received only routine brushing and flossing instruction and

another who receive routine instruction along with instruction on the used of a dental

water jet. After three months it was determined that the group using the dental water jet

had more improvement in both oral and systemic health. Water dental jets have also been

shown to have a great impact on cleaning around orthodontic brackets, implants, crowns,

and bridges. The article states that research on dental water jets continues today. The
topic most commonly studied is the efficiency of removing plaque and biofilm and use of

water jet as an alternative to traditional flossing.

I did not know much about water jets until we covered the topic in class. I think if

used correctly it can be very beneficial for some patients, especially orthodontic patients

or those with bridges, but it’s not for everyone. To use the water jet effectively the patient

needs to be instructed on how to do so. If not used correctly it could cause damage to the

tissue and would not be effective in plaque removal. It was stated in the article that the

water jet is not ideally used by itself, but should be paired with tooth brushing, I agree

with this. The article had a lot of good information on past studies and how the findings

have changed over the years.