Studies have shown that adequate plaque control can prevent gingivitis, periodontal disease and tooth decay. Plaque control is achieved in two ways: mechanical or professional.
Mechanical control methods include self-care by proper brushing and flossing passage by the patient.Professional control includes the use, the firm of brushes or rubber cups, scalers and curettes or ultrasonic devices. The air polishing
was introduced as a less time consuming and more efficient than the previously mentioned alternative methods.
The air polishing using air and water under pressure for providing a specially treated, in suspension, in the flow with a bicarbonate to handpiece.
The water temperature is controlled and maintained at about 37 °. It has been firmly established that air polishing was a safe and effective traditional methods of removing plaque and stains alternative.
The air polishing devices appeared in the 1970s with a mechanism that has not changed much since. The apparatus using air pressure, water and a sodium bicarbonate powder as the polishing medium. The air pressure is approximately four bars, that of water, two bars.
Bicarbonate is food grade, combined with small amounts of calcium phosphate and silica, which allows the powder to remain fluid.
This powder combined with water and pressurized air, removes surface stains, plaque and other soft deposits often found on tooth surfaces.
The decision to use air polishing should be based on the patient's medical history and consent.
The indications for use include:
- After scaling
- Cleaning pits and fissures
- Interproximal cleaning
- Preparation of the tooth before etching
- Acid neutralization before other procedures
- Removal of the remains of temporary cement
- Surface cleaning
- Cleaning of orthodontic bands and brackets
The cons-indications are:
- Patients with respiratory, renal or metabolic disorders
- Patients with cementum or dentin bare
- Polishing prolonged root surfaces
- Patients taking potassium, antidiuretic, or corticosteroids
The air polishing technique can be used with all systems. A good technique to prevent aerosols from being diverted to the practitioner or directed to the soft tissues of the patient.
To control aerosols, high speed suction must be used. The nozzle to the hand piece to be used in a circular motion with the point 3 to 4 mm from the surface of the enamel.
The angle of the nozzle is essential to avoid tissue trauma. Angulation are universal: 60 °, on the anterior teeth, away from the gum, 80 ° on the posterior teeth and 90 ° on the occlusal surface.
If is oriented 90 ° there will be a deviation of the jet towards the patient to the practitioner.
Research shows that there are multiple benefits for air polishing compared to traditional polishing. These include:
- Remove up to 100% of bacteria and endotoxins
- Use on implants
- Creation and smooth surfaces on the root
- Better access to remove stains in the pits and fissures
- Less abrasive
- Use before bonding
- Improved patient comfort
- No heat
- No contact with the teeth
- Reduced operator fatigue
- Temporary relief of dentin hypersensitivity
The air polishing is safe for amalgam, gold, ceramics, rings and orthodontic brackets. Its use is not safe on composites, and ionomer sealants.
The air polishing
with the recommended baking, does not damage the titanium used for implants and is the preferred method of decontamination.
Recently, new powders have been developed for air polishing, comprising glycine, calcium carbonate and calcium phosphosilicate sodium (NovaMin ®).
Glycine is available in two grades: pharmaceutical and technical. Glycine crystals may be grown with a solution of water and sodium then prepared for use in powdered form.
Calcium carbonate, a natural substance, is often used as an excipient in pharmaceuticals and as an active ingredient for antacids.The phospho-calcium-sodium silicate is a bioactive glass. It has the ability to interact with oral fluids and salted sodium, calcium, and phosphate ions, this resulting in remineralization of tooth enamel.Consider air polishing in your armamentarium as a safe and effective alternative to traditional methods.
from:http://www.maxdentalsupply.com/blog/An-air-polisher-it-scrapes/