Dental Air Abrasion: A No-Drill Alternative for Children and Anxious Patients

30 October 2024

Dental Air Abrasion: A No-Drill Alternative for Children and Anxious Patients

Dental anxiety and phobia affect a significant percentage of the population, causing many people to avoid the dentist altogether. Unfortunately, forgoing dental appointments is one of the most common causes of poor oral health. Plaque and bacteria build up on your teeth and cause cavities, tooth decay and gum disease. If these are not treated in a timely manner, they can result in periodontal issues and eventually tooth loss. Visiting the dentist can also help in the early detection of mouth cancer and other life threatening diseases such as cardiovascular disease. It is therefore essential to visit the dentist at least once every six months or more often where necessary.

Dental anxiety and phobia can also affect young children, creating negative connotations with the dentist from an early age. This can result in dental health complications in adulthood. Advances in dental technology mean there are now different techniques and treatments available for anxious adults and children to address their dental issues at their comfort and ease. One popular technique is dental air abrasion.

What is Dental Air Abrasion?

Despite first being discovered in the 1940s and 50s, dental air abrasion has only become popular in general dentistry in the last three decades. Dental air abrasion uses kinetic energy to spray a fine stream of compressed air and aluminium oxide powder directly onto the teeth. This is done using a small handheld device.

Uses of Dental Air Abrasion

Dental air abrasion is a non-invasive dental technique that is used most commonly for the treatment of tooth decay. When the stream of powder strikes the small particles of decay they can be broken off and suctioned away. Once the decay is removed, the tooth is then ready for composite filling as necessary.

Dental air abrasion is also used to remove old composite restorations. The pressure of the compressed air and fine particles help fracture the surface layer of the restoration. Once the old restorations are removed, the tooth is ready for new restorations, sealants or bonding.

In cosmetic dentistry, dental air abrasion is used to remove superficial stains from the teeth. This is suitable for patients with external stains and discolouration. The device acts as a mini-sandblaster, removing any stains from the surface of the teeth without harming the natural tooth structure. It also helps remove any plaque and biofilm from the surface of your teeth, simultaneously promoting better dental health.

Advantages of Dental Air Abrasion

In comparison to traditional dental techniques, dental air abrasion is an excellent choice for children and anxious patients. Firstly, air abrasion can be carried out without the generation of heat, pressure or vibration, unlike other dental techniques such as drilling or scraping. This is not only ideal for anxious patients but makes it highly suitable for children, allowing the dentist to look after the patient’s teeth without causing pain or discomfort. There is also no noise created by the device which is an added advantage in comparison to unpleasant drilling sounds.

For patients and children who are afraid of needles, dental air abrasion is an excellent choice of treatment as it can be carried out without the need for anaesthetic. This helps ease the process for the patient and removes the typical numbness or discomfort felt post-procedure with local anaesthetic.

Preserving Your Teeth

Accuracy is another significant advantage of dental air abrasion. The handheld device enables the dentist to precisely remove the decayed or damaged part of the tooth, preserving more of the healthy tooth than may be possible with traditional dental procedures such as drilling. There is also less chance of the tooth being fractured or chipped, as there are no vibrations created by the device. The process itself should also be much quicker, again appealing to anxious patients and children who want to spend as little time as possible in the dental chair. In many cases the use of dental air abrasion means that multiple procedures can be carried out in a single appointment. This reduces the number of appointments that you need for your treatment, which is not only more cost-effective but also more convenient.

Speak to your dentist today to find out more about dental air abrasion and other non-invasive techniques that will help you to enjoy better dental health while minimising anxiety or discomfort during treatment.