Monthly Archives: April 2019

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The Use of Dental Air Polishing

New technology is transforming all areas of the way we live and dentistry is no exception. The innovative air flow polishing technique uses a machine that cleans and polishes the teeth with a mix of water, compressed air and fine powder particles. This method is far superior to traditional cleaning methods that use scraping tools, rubber cups and polishing discs and which can be time-consuming and uncomfortable.

A powerful yet controlled jet of water, air and fine powder not only polishes all the surfaces of a tooth, removing plaque, discoloration and soft deposits, but also reaches deep into periodontal pockets up to a depth of 5 mm. It is far more efficient than traditional scrape and polish treatment at removing the damaging biofilm that develops when dental plaque is colonized by bacteria and can cause periodontitis and peri-implantitis to develop. Air flow polishing is completely safe to use with dental implants, veneers, crowns and bridges.

In air polishing, the powder of choice is usually sodium bicarbonate which is abrasive and helpful with the removal of heavy stains and soft deposits above the gumline. With dental air polishers, the tip is specialized to be able to effectively enter the periodontal pocket and deliver a very low abrasive powder. The powder of choice with air polishing is Glycine. Glycine is an amino acid and is significantly smaller in particle size than sodium bicarbonate. It appears to have an active role in the disruption of bacterial recolonization making it both preventive and therapeutic.

The main goal in air polishing is root debridement resulting in the removal of biofilm. This biofilm elimination can result in a beneficial shift in the oral microbiota. Studies have shown that air polishing tends to have less adverse effects for the patient such as pain and sensitivity versus hand instrumentation. Moreover, the air polisher is much more effective in reaching the base of pockets over 5mm and removing biofilm than hand instrumentation.

Air polishing is also proven to be clinically efficient and effective for the removal of biofilm without endangering soft tissues, enamel, dentin, or cementum. The procedure is very quick and simple. The tip is placed at a 90-degree angle to the long axis of the root, and a 5-second application disperses air, water, and glycine powder for the removal of biofilm.

Air flow polishing is ideal for those who suffer from sensitive teeth. This is not only due to the lack of direct contact and the absence of heat and vibration, but because the tiny micro particles of powder can actually fill any exposed dentine tubules and reduce dental sensitivity. Air flow polishing can also encourage the re-mineralization of damaged teeth.

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The Applicant of Digital Technology in Dentistry

Digital dentistry refers to the use of computers and computer-controlled equipment in the provision of dental care. It encompasses things such as computer-aided diagnostic imaging, computer-aided design and fabrication of dental restorations such as crowns for individual patients, and dental lasers. Digital dentistry techniques have grown in popularity in recent years with the advance of computers and other technologies such as digital sensors.

When contemplating the change to digital dental in your practice, the choices can be confusing for the dentist. Dental radiography has evolved from film and chemical developers into a highly technical process that involves various types of dental x-ray machines, as well as powerful dental software programs to assist the dentist with image acquisition and diagnostic analysis of the acquired images.

Instead of using electromagnetic radiation and chemical processing to record an X-ray onto film, digital versions use digital sensors to record images onto an image capture device, which then creates a digital image file. This file can then be used by medical staff members, and the file can be attached to a patient’s medical notes for future reference. It can be printed to paper or slide material so can be used the same as any standard X-ray, but without as much risk and usually at lower overall cost.

With digital dental X-rays, your dentist or other dental professional is able to immediately see your teeth and jaw bones. This means that assessment and diagnosis is virtually instantaneous. Like old fashioned dental X-rays, digital dental X-rays are used by your dentist to take images of your mouth, including tooth structure and your jaw bones. In order to take the digital images, your dentist – or a dental technician – will place a small sensor in your mouth, carefully positioned. This small sensor is connected to the processing computer by a very thin wire.

Replacing physical photographs with computer data also eliminates the expense of processing and storing these pictures and makes it easier to quickly send a patient’s information to another dentist or an insurance company. The ability to use computer enhancement of images can also help to compensate for flaws in the original image, such as overexposure or under exposure, and so reduces the need to retake images, which saves time and reduces the patient’s exposure to radiation.