We use compressed air to blast these particles at your cavity. As air abrasion is performed, we suction away the waste. Once this process is complete, we can go ahead and fill your cavity with a tooth-colored filling.

The Advantages of Air Abrasion The most obvious advantage of air abrasion is that it is a much more pleasant way for us to remove decay than is a traditional drill. This process allows us to remove less of your original tooth structure. As conservative dentists, we prefer to retain as much natural tooth structure as possible. Doing so leaves you with a stronger and more durable tooth after the cavity is filled. In addition, because we remove less tooth structure with air abrasion, you may not require anesthesia for every cavity we treat. Surface cavities can often be prepared without a local anesthetic if we are using air abrasion. Of course, there are instances when a traditional drill is necessary, such as when we need to prepare your tooth for a porcelain crown, treating a cavity that is deep inside a tooth or when performing a root canal treatment. Otherwise, air abrasion may be the ideal solution for preparing your tooth for dental treatment. Source: Best Dentist News Biofilm Communities Teach us About Individualized Care Most of the historical treatment of gum disease and other bacterial infections has been based on viewing individual bacteria cultures, and treating with antibiotics. What this research and treatment fails to take into account is that free floating single bacteria lead to acute illnesses, but do not typically cause wounds and chronic infections. Bacteria that combine to form protective biofilms are the cause of tooth decay, gum disease, and other chronic illnesses. Plaque buildup in the mouth is one specific form of biofilm that creates wounds that lead to periodontal disease. When gum disease is treated with generic antibiotics not only is this treatment less effective, it can also be detrimental to health as bacteria build stronger resistance to antibiotics. The solution? Personalized treatment. As every biofilm is made up of a unique combination of bacteria and other materials, cases of periodontal infection should receive unique care to remove and prevent future plaque buildup. There should never be a one-size-fits-all approach to dental care, and that goes for plaque wounds and infections. Periodontal Disease Provides Lessons on Multidisciplinarity Plaque builds strong defensive systems because more than 500 types of bacteria work together to fortify and protect the colony. Each type of bacteria has its own defensive system, and the more types of bacteria work together, the harder they are to remove. Dentists could learn a lesson from this defensive system. It’s time to break down the silos of medical care, and start working with dental specialist and other medical practitioners to better understand not just how to treat gum disease, but how to protect against it in the first place. Every field of dental and medical care has its own defenses against and treatments for infection, and there is much to be learned by sharing knowledge. Treatment Changes & Community Building Dr. Randy Wolcott, a wound care researcher, discovered that many patients treated for infection would relapse. Antibiotics or other therapies removed the initial disease, but did little to treat damaged tissue or prevent future infection.