Air abrasion
Air abrasion is a dental technique that uses compressed air to propel a thin stream of abrasive particles—often aluminum oxide or silica—through a specialized hand-piece to remove tooth tissue and decay before being suctioned away, similar to sand blasting. It can be used in a variety of dental procedures, including removing tooth decay, stains, and old restorations, as well as to prepare teeth for new restorations, sealants, and bonding.
Advantages and disadvantages
Advantages of air abrasion include that it preserves more healthy tooth tissue, and has less risk of fracturing or chipping a tooth when compared to a traditional pneumatic dental drill. Air abrasion generates minimal noise, vibration, pressure, and heat, all of which can increase patient comfort and reduce or eliminate the need for local anesthesia.Disadvantages of air abrasion include not being appropriate for removing decay in all situations and the initial investment costs of an air abrasion system. Additionally, there are some concerns related to the possible health effects of inhaling abrasive particles and clean-up concerns. Risks related to inhaling abrasive particles can be minimized by using a dental dam, appropriate suction, and combining water into the air abrasive steam.