Air Abrasion

Air abrasion dentistry is a conservative, less traumatic alternative to the high-speed drill. It allows your dentist to selectively remove decay, leaving more healthy tooth structure. The procedure can often be done without anaesthesia. Without an injection you will have fewer visits to your dentist, because he can often do more than one cavity restoration at a time.

The Progress of Tooth Decay

Over the past several years, widespread use of fluoride has made the outer enamel of the tooth more decay resistant. Unfortunately, small nooks and crannies on the chewing surface are still susceptible to decay. They are often smaller than a single toothbrush bristle, making it difficult to completely clean the tooth.

Why Air Abrasion for Detecting Tooth Decay?

Air abrasion dentistry can help your dentist find hidden decay. The very fine and narrow abrasive stream can remove just the stain and debris in the nooks and crannies of your teeth. Once these areas are cleaned, a special cavity-detecting dye can show where the decay is actively destroying tooth structure. Your dentist can use the same air abrasion instrument to remove this decay and then restore the tooth with the appropriate filling material.

The History of Air Abrasion

Air abrasion techology was introduced in the 1950s as an alternative to needle and drill cavity preparation. Although extremely popular with patients, its use faded due to a lack of suitable bonding materials. Today's technology has made it possible for your teeth to be less traumatized with air abrasion and be filled with excellent, strong restorative materials.

From Dinosaurs to Dentistry

At the same time air abrasion was being used in dentistry, new applications for this unique technology were being unearthed. All over the world air abrasion is being used in many industries and in hundreds of ways. Semiconductor manufacturers use it to help make micro-chips. Medical companies use it to sharpen hypodermic needles and for marking pacemakers. The aerospace industry uses it to repair electronics circuit boards on airlanes, spaceships and satellites. Museums use it for the restoration of priceless artifacts and prehistoric fossils.