A surgical instrument, comprising: a handpiece housing; an acoustic assembly supported within said handpiece housing, wherein said acoustic assembly is configured to produce vibrations; a waveguide comprising a proximal end and a distal end, wherein said proximal end is mounted to said acoustic assembly such that vibrations produced by said acoustic assembly are transmitted to said waveguide, and wherein said waveguide further comprises a tissue-contacting surface; a clamp movable between an open position and a closed position relative to said waveguide, wherein said clamp comprises: a clamp tissue-contacting surface, wherein said clamp tissue-contacting surface is positioned at least one of against or adjacent to said waveguide tissue-contacting surface when said clamp is in said closed position; and a sidewall extending beyond said clamp tissue-contacting surface, wherein said sidewall also extends beyond said waveguide tissue-contacting surface when said clamp is in said closed position a first conductor in electrical communication with said waveguide; and a second conductor in electrical communication with said clamp, wherein said first conductor and said second conductor are configured to be placed in electrical communication with a power source such that current can flow between said waveguide and said clamp through tissue in contact with said waveguide and said clamp; and characterized in that said clamp further comprises a pad mounted thereto, wherein said pad comprises said tissue-contacting surface, and wherein said pad is comprised of an electrically-conductive material such that the current flows between the waveguide and clamp through the pad. a handpiece housing; an acoustic assembly supported within said handpiece housing, wherein said acoustic assembly is configured to produce vibrations; a waveguide comprising a proximal end and a distal end, wherein said proximal end is mounted to said acoustic assembly such that vibrations produced by said acoustic assembly are transmitted to said waveguide, and wherein said waveguide further comprises a tissue-contacting surface; a clamp movable between an open position and a closed position relative to said waveguide, wherein said clamp comprises: a clamp tissue-contacting surface, wherein said clamp tissue-contacting surface is positioned at least one of against or adjacent to said waveguide tissue-contacting surface when said clamp is in said closed position; and a sidewall extending beyond said clamp tissue-contacting surface, wherein said sidewall also extends beyond said waveguide tissue-contacting surface when said clamp is in said closed position a clamp tissue-contacting surface, wherein said clamp tissue-contacting surface is positioned at least one of against or adjacent to said waveguide tissue-contacting surface when said clamp is in said closed position; and a sidewall extending beyond said clamp tissue-contacting surface, wherein said sidewall also extends beyond said waveguide tissue-contacting surface when said clamp is in said closed position a first conductor in electrical communication with said waveguide; and a second conductor in electrical communication with said clamp, wherein said first conductor and said second conductor are configured to be placed in electrical communication with a power source such that current can flow between said waveguide and said clamp through tissue in contact with said waveguide and said clamp; and characterized in that said clamp further comprises a pad mounted thereto, wherein said pad comprises said tissue-contacting surface, and wherein said pad is comprised of an electrically-conductive material such that the current flows between the waveguide and clamp through the pad.