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 Drill-Free
Dentistry
"No Shots and No Drills?" NO KIDDING! Air Abrasion is a relatively new
dental procedure used in place of a traditional dental drill, to remove decay
and prepare teeth for fillings. We simply use a small handheld piece of
equipment to bombard the tooth area with a stream of powder. This powder hits
the tooth under high pressure and blasts away any decay. Because of
the tiny particles used, the technique is sometimes called 'micro-abrasion'.
Although not appropriate for procedures such as crown or bridge preparation,
we can use air abrasion to repair cracks, discolorations, and prepare teeth for
bonding procedures. In fact, the technique prepares the tooth surface to provide
maximum adhesion for cosmetic work, and increased bonding strength in both
restorative and cosmetic applications. Plus, it's great for conducting young
children's dental treatments, eliminating the sometimes frightening noise,
vibrations, and discomfort associated with a dental drill.
Easy on You
The air abrasion procedure is both simple and effective. First, we may ask
you to wear protective glasses so that the tiny, harmless dust particles do not
bother your eyes. As we begin the procedure, we gently move the hand-piece into
position and blow the air stream at the tooth to be treated. This results in a
small amount of harmless, gritty debris, that we will spray and vacuum out of
your mouth during the abrasion; we simply rinse away any remaining particles
after the procedure.
Effective on Teeth
Air abrasion's minute particles allow such amazing precision that more of the
tooth structure is actually preserved than with traditional drill procedures.
Furthermore, there's less risk of enamel micro-fracturing. It also entails
minimal discomfort, since the equipment does not produce vibration or heat; thus
the procedure rarely requires anesthetic. And finally, it's both quieter and
faster than using a drill.
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