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Air Abrasion The Drill Less Technique

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Dentists of this modern era have a newer alternative for removing portions of the tooth structure for eliminating tooth cavities without that familiar drill. The technique is known as the Dental air abrasion.
Air abrasion is a drill-less technique used by some dentists to remove small areas of tooth decay. It works just like a sandblaster which helps remove graffiti from walls. The air abrasion handpiece blows a mighty air stream of tiny aluminum oxide particles out of its tip onto the tooth which blasts the decay away leaving a much cleaner and smoother tooth surface.
Air Abrasion The Drill-Less Technique
Air Abrasion
How Does Air Abrasion Work?
During air abrasion, an instrument that looks like an airbrush is used to spray away the decay. A narrow stream of particles aims at the stained or decayed area of the tooth. These particles are often made of silica, aluminum oxide, or a baking soda mixture. They are propelled toward the tooth surface by compressed air or gas that runs through the dental handpiece. Small parts of decay are removed from the tooth surface as the stream of particles strikes them with good pressure. The decay particles are then "suctioned" away through a thin tube.
Many parameters vary the quantity of tooth removal and depth of particle penetration. These "parameters" are as follows:
  1. The amount of air pressure.
  2. The particle size.
  3. The density of particles that pass through the nozzle which is being considered.
  4. Nozzle diameter of the handpiece.
  5. The angle of the nozzle of the handpiece.
  6. Distance from the object.
  7. Time of exposure to the tooth.

What Are the Advantages of Air Abrasion?

The advantages of air abrasion are many compared with the traditional drilling method. These are as follows:
  • Air abrasion generates no heat, vibration, or pressure.
  • Air Abrasion does not produce a scary sound as in the case of tooth drilling machine. The air abrasion procedure reduces fear in patients.
  • Often, air Abrasion may reduce the requirement for anesthesia, especially if the cavity is shallow.
  • More of the healthy tooth structure is left behind in Air abrasion, unlike drilling.
  • Air abrasion does not involve the risk of fracturing and chipping of the tooth.
  • While your dentist is cleaning your teeth, he might spot a small cavity and can quickly fill it up the same day by the air abrasion technique, using natural-looking restoration materials that help strengthen and protect the teeth.
  • The procedure may take longer than traditional drilling but is relatively much more straightforward.

What Are the Disadvantages of Air Abrasion?

  • Air abrasion is not always painless. The air and abrasive particles may sometimes cause tooth sensitivity.
  • Air abrasion is not a suitable for deep cavities which are very close to the tooth's pulp or for those that are in between teeth. It is best recommended for treating small cavities that form early on the outer surface (enamel) of teeth.
  • Air abrasion does not help in removing hard enamel to be able to access the decay. Therefore, in such cases, a traditional drilling equipment must be used to achieve the desired result. Once the decay becomes accessible, air abrasion can then be used for further removal of the decay.
  • Air abrasion does not come into use when preparing crowns, on-lays, and inlays. The technique can also be used to remove old composite fillings and stains or spots from the surface of the tooth.

Patient's Guide

Danforth Dentist, Dr. Claudia Wood says, “Air abrasion is a good alternative for all patients, mostly children and nervous or elderly who fear drill (dental anxiety) or the noise that comes from it, and who have minimal tooth decay.” Discuss the condition of your teeth and the process of dental air abrasion with your dentist, if you both agree that air Abrasion is a suitable treatment for your cavities, then you must not delay in getting the procedure done. Also, discuss the after or co-existing treatments that you will need to get done.
The procedure of air abrasion can leave an accumulation of dust-like particle debris in the patient's mouth that is harmless but can feel gritty in the mouth. Debris is eradicated by rinsing. This technique removes the decay in teeth, but the cavity will usually remain, and it will need to be filled unless the air abrasion is used as a preventative measure before cavities build up.
Composite fillings typically work best with air abrasion. The reason behind this fact is that the composite material adheres best to teeth which have been smoothened by the air abrasion technique and this makes the filling last longer.
References
  1. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dental_drill
  2. http://danforthdentalsolutions.ca/
  3. http://www.dentalguide.co.uk/patient-guides/a-guide-to-air-abrasion/
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Location: 2137 Danforth Ave, Toronto, ON M4C 1K2, Canada

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