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AIR ABRASION

What Is Air Abrasion?

The miniature sandblaster, or air abrasion will literally "spray away decay" without heat, vibration, or the whistle of the drill...and no local anesthesia needed.  We then can fill your tooth with a composite (tooth colored filling material).  

Air abrasion, also called "micro abrasion" and kinetic cavity preparation (KCP), is a method of tooth structure removal considered to be an effective alternative to the standard dental drill.  

The air abrasion  blows a powerful air stream of tiny, fine aluminum oxide particles out of its tip onto tooth structure. Air abrasion uses the kinetic energy principle, in which particles bounce off the tooth and blasts the decay away.

What are its advantages?
Air abrasion procedures are virtually painless, which, in most cases, eliminates the need for local anesthesia (numbing). Air abrasion systems produce no vibration and no heat from friction. The technology can't harm soft mouth tissue and they operate very quietly. Because air abrasion cuts tooth surfaces with the utmost precision, it removes less tooth than the drill and it reduces the risk of enamel micro-fracturing. In other words, the advantages are more of your tooth is preserved, there is little or no discomfort, no anesthetic numbness is needed, and treatment time is usually shorter.

How does air abrasion work?
Air abrasion procedures can leave an accumulation of harmless, dusty particle debris in the patient's mouth, resulting in a gritty feeling that is eradicated by rinsing. Your dentist may require you to wear protective glasses during the procedure, and a rubber dam may be applied inside your mouth and around the tooth area being treated to serve as a particle barrier. To reduce dust buildup, the dentist or dental assistant may use a vacuum hose or a water spray technique while administering air abrasion.

Is air abrasion suitable for everyone?
Yes. It is an especially good for children who may be afraid of the needle, and the noise, and vibration of a regular dental drill.  Air abrasion can't be used as an alternative in every procedure.