Air Abrasion
Conservative Cavity Care
Air Abrasion is a relatively new dental procedure used in place of the
traditional dental drill that removes decay and prepares teeth for fillings.
It's a fairly straightforward technique: the air abrasion device simply
bombards the tooth area with a stream of aluminum oxide particles. These
particles hit the tooth under high pressure, bounce off at high speeds,
and consequently blast away any decay. Since the particles are so tiny,
we sometimes refer to the technique as 'micro-abrasion'. It's also called
'kinetic cavity preparation', because the principle of kinetic energy
gives the particles enough impact power to actually remove minute amounts
tooth structure and decay.
Although not appropriate for procedures such as crown or bridge preparation,
we often use air abrasion to repair cracks, discolorations, and prepare
teeth for bonding procedures. We also find it to be an excellent choice
for conducting children's dental treatments, as youngsters are often afraid
of the noise, vibrations, and discomfort associated with a dental drill.
Procedure and Protection
The air abrasion procedure is uncomplicated and effective. First, we
may ask you to wear protective glasses so that the tiny, harmless dust
particles do not bother your eyes. And for your comfort, we'll gently
fit your mouth with a rubber barrier called a 'dam' around the treatment
zone, confining the particles to a limited area. Next, Dr. Swedenburg
will carefully move the hand-piece into position, blowing the air stream
at the tooth to be treated and removing the decay. This produces a small
amount of harmless, gritty debris which we continuously spray and vacuum
out of your mouth during the abrasion; rinsing away any remaining particles
after the procedure.
Precision and Preservation
Air abrasion's minute particles allow amazing precision so that more
of the tooth structure is preserved than with traditional drill procedures.
Furthermore, there's less risk of enamel micro-fracturing. It also entails
minimal discomfort, since the equipment does not produce vibration or
heat; thus the procedure rarely requires anesthetic. And finally, it's
both quieter and faster than using a drill.
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