Air Abrasion

Drill-Free Dentistry

Air Abrasion is a relatively new dental procedure used in place of a traditional dental drill, to remove decay and prepare teeth for fillings. We simply use a small handheld piece of equipment to bombard 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. Because of the tiny particles used, the technique is sometimes called 'micro-abrasion'. Another name for it is 'kinetic cavity preparation', since the principle of kinetic energy gives the particles enough impact power to actually remove tooth structure and decay.

Although not appropriate for procedures such as crown or bridge preparation, we can use air abrasion to repair cracks, discolorations, and prepare teeth for bonding procedures. In fact, the technique prepares the tooth surface to provide maximum adhesion for cosmetic work, and increased bonding strength in both restorative and cosmetic applications. Plus, it's great for conducting young children's dental treatments, eliminating the sometimes frightening noise, vibrations, and discomfort associated with a dental drill.

Easy on You

The air abrasion procedure is both simple and effective. First, we may ask you to wear protective glasses so that the tiny, harmless dust particles do not bother your eyes. Also, we may fit your mouth with a rubber barrier called a 'dam' around the treatment zone, to keep the particles confined to a limited area. As we begin the procedure, we gently move the hand-piece into position and blow the air stream at the tooth to be treated. This results in a small amount of harmless, gritty debris, that we will spray and vacuum out of your mouth during the abrasion; we simply rinse away any remaining particles after the procedure.

Effective on Teeth

Air abrasion's minute particles allow such amazing precision that more of the tooth structure is actually 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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