Air Abrasion

Many people associate the high-pitched whirring of a dental drill with pain. Just the sound alone can make many people wince. Even though modern advances in anesthesia make the drill a relatively painless device, there is an alternative called air abrasion. Also called "microabrasion," air abrasion works much like the sandblasting technique used to clear graffiti from walls.

Air abrasion is achieved by using a special device that blows a powerful airborne stream of tiny, fine aluminum oxide particles out of its tip onto the structure of the tooth. During the procedure, particles bounce off the tooth and blast the decay away. Air abrasion procedures can leave an accumulation of harmless, dusty particle debris in the patient`s mouth, resulting in a gritty feeling eliminated by rinsing. Sometimes, 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.

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