Recent Advances: Air Abrasion

Air Abrasion technique (KCP) (kinetic Cavity preparation)

Info:

Based on the use of a stream of small aluminum oxide particles with pressured air to cause impact on the caries and abrade it.

Advantages:

• Less pain –> thus reducing the time needed for the use of local anesthesia.
• Less noise and vibration.
• Precise and time saving.
• Air polishing with bicarbonate powder can remove plaque and stain effectively with no damage to the tooth or gingival.

Disadvantages:

• More effective on hard normal dentine than soft dentine affected dentine
• When using composite, the air abrasion doesn’t provide the micromechanical roughness needs for retention thus needs acid-etchant.
• Loss of tactile sensation.
• Possible iatrogenic damage especially on the cementum and root dentine.
• Can induce asthma –> thus needs high volume suction
• Can’t remove amalgam restoration.
• Can’t perform massive reduction for crown.

Video Courtesy of Denville Implant and Cosmetic Dentistry Center