Air polishing is one of the dental treatments done to quickly and effectively remove unwanted stains that are present on the front and back of the teeth. This procedure involves using a jet of compressed air, water and fine powder particles to thoroughly and gently remove stains caused by coffee, red wine, tea, tobacco as well as those caused by certain mouthwashes.
A review of various studies shows that polishing teeth with a jet of air, water, and an abrasive agent effectively removes stains than polishing with a prophy or a rubber cup. In addition to that, air polishing is usually gentler on the tooth enamel and does not spoil it. The cleaning agent generally used is sodium bicarbonate, but glycine, which is a naturally occurring amino-acid is as effective and less abrasive.
What are the advantages of doing Air Polishing over other traditional Periodontal Treatments?
Air Polishing has many advantages of which the most beneficial one is how gentle a process it is. It reduces discomfort to a very great extent in those who have heavy staining issues. Here are some advantages of air polishing compared to other standard methods of dental polishing:
Far more effective than a traditional polish
Air polishing removes damaged biofilm, which develops when dental plaque is colonized by bacteria and may lead to the development of peri-implantitis and periodontitis. It not only polishes the surface of your teeth by removing discolouration, plaque, and soft deposits but also reaches up to 5 mm deep into the periodontal pockets.
Improves patient comfort
The thought of scraping tools digging into your gums or a polishing disc pressing onto their tooth enamel is obviously scary. Certainly, air polishing is quite the opposite of the traditional methods of conventional teeth cleaning as it is a fast, painless, and a non-invasive cleaning procedure. Unlike other techniques used, this one does not generate any heat or vibration, which was the leading cause of discomfort to the patients. To make the cleaning process more comfortable and a pleasant experience, the powders used in air polishing come with added flavours such as spearmint, lemon, strawberry etc.
Reduces teeth sensitivity
For those suffering from tooth sensitivity, air polishing is an ideal treatment. This is not only because it does not touch the teeth and the absence of heat and vibration, but because of the tiny microparticles of powder that fill dentin tubules when exposed and thus reduces dental sensitivity. Further, it can also promote the rematerialization of damaged teeth.
Cleaning is much faster
Studies show that air polishing is three times faster at removing plaque and stains than other traditional procedures. It cleans your teeth in a much less abrasive manner and causes memorable cleaning experience. If there are any small regions of primitive decay, they are gently blasted away, hence eliminating the need for drilling into the tooth.
Further, the procedure also requires no heat and is ideal for using before orthodontic treatment. It removes up to 100% of dental plaque hence helps prevent decay, advanced gum diseases, and gingivitis