Well not exactly. But close.
In June of 1994 I modified a Sonicaire toothbrush by removing the brush and replacing it with our Fine Cut Sonic Adapter. (Which has been replaced with the Fine-Cut Endo Contra-Angle.)
The concept is this.
Circumferential filing can be broken down into two actions, that of the circumferential movement around the circumference of canal, and linear oscillation, that is moving the file in and out.
Click here to see an animated GIF of Circumferential filing
Since the average dentist can move a file up and down about 5 strokes per second and the toothbrush moves 250 up and down strokes per second, you can cut dentin at least fifty times faster than you can by hand. When using the sytem that this replaced i.e. a sonic or ultrasonic handpiece, YOU must do the up and down motion.
This is why the variability in the reported effectiveness of sonic systems.
If you expect it to do your work for you, you will be disappointed.
YOU have to do the cutting.
The only function of the vibration (which by the way waggles the file back and forth, not linearly), is to keep the file in motion and stir up the water.
That new system which we called the STS( Successor To Sonics ) [and now the Fine-Cut Endo Contra-angle] does the up and down motion for you.
All you need to do is steer it around the periphery of the canal.
So, although it is technically no longer a toothbrush, you can do endo with it.
Those who use it report that it is nothing short of amazing.
It takes less than a minute in some cases to to the entire enlargement and cleansing of the canal, providing more comfort for both patient and dentist.
If you already own a Sonicaire toothbrush all you need is some Fine-Cut Files, and the modified brush head with the Fine Cut Sonic adapter.
The modification will cost about $230 and the files are about $5 each.
Both these products are available from Special Products. Their phone number is (800)538-6835.
(Note: That product came into being in 1998 and is called the Fine-Cut Endo Contra-Angle and is currently available at this writing(May 2004)). It attaches to any E-type motor such as MTI or some of the other electric motors.
It is much smaller and eliminates most of the objections people have to using a toothbrush to do endo.
It is autoclavable, small, variable in speed( it depends on the speed of your handpiece ), can be operated with your existing foot control. It still used Fine-Cut files, the same ones we have used in the ultra-sonic, sonic, and toothbrush systems.
Note: It is currently available and enjoying good acceptance from those fortunate enough to have purchased it early.