Getting Familiar with Air Abrasion
For most people, the anxiety that is associated with trips to the dentist stems from the different tools that they use to proffer treatment. One of the most notorious of these is the dentist's drill. Undoubtedly, what most people would prefer is that tooth material could be extracted without the accompaniment of pain, pressure and noise. The good news is that more and more dental clinics are offering air abrasion technology to their patients!
What is air abrasion technology?
An air abrasion tool is a hand held device that can be used for an array of applications by your dentist. It works similarly to a mini sandblaster. To extract tooth material, it makes use of compressed gas to create a stream of fine particles. Precision aiming at the affected enables these fine particles to abrade the surface of the tooth. Commonly, most dental clinics will make use of aluminium oxide to create the fine stream of particles. As the abrasion occurs, the debris being removed is simultaneously sucked away via a suction tube. Although this type of technology may sound futuristic, it actually has been around for several decades. It is only in recent years though that improved designs and enhanced capabilities have made it popular in the dental field.
What applications can air abrasion be used in?
There are a number of ways that your dentist can make use of air abrasion technology. Some of the most common uses of this device include:
- Teeth whitening
- Extraction of dental caries
- Drilling of cavities with composite compounds
- Tooth veneering
- Prepping teeth before bonding procedures
- Stain removal and more.
What are the benefits of air abrasion?
One of the biggest benefits of air abrasion is that it is less intimidating than a regular dentist's drill. Since this tool does not require a whirring drill to power it, it does not generate as much vibration or pressure as a regular drill. Additionally, it is much less audible, making it great for a patient who experiences anxiety when faced with whining dental equipment. As such, it is ideal for children and people who tend to be nervous and anxious at the dental clinic. Another benefit of air abrasion is that it can be used to treat premature cavities that have been detected through laser diagnosis. Since these cavities are spotted before they can be treated through conventional methods, air abrasion can be used to ensure they never get the chance to progress.
If you have a fear of the drill, talk with a local dental clinic about the availability of air abrasion technology in your area.
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