What Is Air Abrasion in Dentistry?
Air abrasion is an innovative type of restorative dentistry treatment used
to remove tooth decay, prepare cavities for fillings, and clean teeth. It
is essentially a “sandblasting” of the tooth using air, fine particles
(such as aluminum oxide), and water, which removes the decayed tooth
material from the affected area. Air abrasion is a minimally invasive
procedure that can reduce the amount of discomfort and recovery time
associated with traditional dental procedures.
What Does Air Abrasion Treat?
Air abrasion is used to remove dental plaque, prepare cavities for
fillings, correct stains or discolorations, prepare teeth for sealing and
restoration, or to help with root canals or other endodontic treatments. It
can also be used to clean teeth prior to dental crown or bridge
preparations.
Air abrasion can provide the same result as a drill in many cases, but it
does have some limitations. Air abrasion may not be suitable for deep
cavities or extensive decay. Since air abrasion may have difficulty
reaching decay deep in the tooth, your local Oxnard dentist may recommend a
different procedure in these cases.