The Future of Painless Dental Care at Schaefer Dental Group in Lansing, Michigan
Imagine a future where small cavities are detected early and filled without anesthesia, requiring only the minimum removal of tooth material. Imagine routine dental procedures performed without patients noticing vibration or pressure, and where the piercing whine of a traditional drill is a sound heard no more. This future is already here at Schaefer Dental Group in Lansing, Michigan, thanks to air abrasion technology.
Understanding Air Abrasion Technology
The air abrasion instrument is a hand-held tool used by your dentist for a variety of purposes. Much like a mini-sandblaster, it uses compressed air (or another gas) to produce a fine, precisely aimed stream of abrasive particles. The small, high-speed particles (often silica or aluminum oxide) gently remove tiny bits of decayed material from the tooth; the debris is then immediately removed through a powerful suction tube.
This technology isn’t entirely new—it was first developed in the 1940s—but recent advances in high-volume suction and improved dental restoration materials have given the process a renewed appeal.
Common Uses for Air Abrasion
Some of the procedures for which air abrasion is ideally suited include:
- Removing dental caries (cavities) and preparing them for composite (tooth-colored) filling material.
- Preparing teeth for bonding, veneering, or other cosmetic procedures.
- Removing stains or repairing small defects in teeth.
How the Minimally-Invasive Process Works
The tiny abrasive particles, which are 0.002 inches or less in diameter, remove only minute amounts of tooth structure, making a drill seem coarse by comparison. The air pressure, flow rate, nozzle diameter, and other settings on the instrument can be accurately controlled to produce the precise amount of abrasion needed. The result is a minimally-invasive method of removing decayed or unwanted tooth material, preserving more of your natural tooth structure.
Safety Precautions
Even though powerful suction is used to remove spent abrasive and debris, it is necessary for everyone to wear protective eyewear as a precaution. A rubber dam (shield) is also generally used to keep abrasive particles from affecting other teeth or getting into areas of the mouth where they don’t belong. Nearby teeth and gums can also be coated with a protective resin if needed.
Key Advantages of Choosing Air Abrasion
Because it doesn’t require a whirring drill, air abrasion generates no pressure or vibration, and makes very little noise. This eliminates the need for anesthesia, especially if the cavity is not deep, and reduces the chance of damaging the tooth during a procedure. Most importantly, it leaves more healthy tooth material behind.
This technology is ideal for children, or anyone who is sensitive to dental discomfort. In fact, it is perfect for treating tiny cavities that have been detected by laser diagnosis (cavities that are not yet big enough to be seen on an X-ray), allowing the team at Schaefer Dental Group to seal them up before they become bigger problems.
While it is a fine-scale instrument and not suitable for treating deep cavities or removing old metal fillings, as a high-tech tool for performing many preventive and restorative dental procedures, air abrasion offers unique benefits to both the dentist and the patient in Lansing, Michigan.