USING AIR ABRASIVE TECHNOLOGY TO DIAGNOSE
AND RESTORE PIT AND FISSURE CARIES.

RONALD E GOLDSTEIN, D.D.S.; FREDERICK M. PARKINS, D.D.S., M.S.D., PH.D.
JADA,Vol.126.June 1995 p.761-765
 
SUMMARY
 
Pit and fissure caries pose one of the most serious threats to the dental health of our next generation of patients. Air-abrasive technology may provide a useful method to help meet that threat head on.
 
In brief, the steps in the air-abrasive approach to diagnosis and treatment of pit and fissure caries are:

• visually detecting suspiciously stained pits or fissures;
  
• removing stain with an air-abrasive stream;
  
• evaluating the pit or fissure for decay;
  
• if no decay is present, sealing the pit or fissure with resin materials;
  
• if caries is present, completely eradicating the decay using the air-abrasive stream (hand or rotary instruments may be used if the area of decay is large);
  
• depending on the extent of decay, restoring with glass ionomer cement, an adhesive bonding agent, composite resin or sealant, or an additive combination of materials.

In many cases, the air-abrasive approach allows for the discovery and treatment of decay that was difficult to detect by other means. Patients appreciate the comfort of this approach to the early interception of decay. Air-abrasive technology provides a promising addition to available preventative and conservative methods for surface preparation and removal of stain or decay. Long-term clinical observations with these methods are needed. fin.

Dr. Goldstein is a clinical professor, Department of Oral Rehabilitation, Medical College of Georgia, School of Dentistry, Augusta, and in private practice in Atlanta, Ga. Address reprint requests to :
 
Dr. Parkins is Professor of Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, University of Louisville, Ky.
 
The opinions expressed or implied are strictly those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or official policies of the American Dental Association or its subsidiaries.
 
Both authors have served as consultants or received educational and research funding from American Dental Technologies and Sunrise Technologies, both manufacturers of air abrasive systems: however, neither author has a financial interest in any company or air-abrasive system. Likewise, neither the American Dental Association nor its subsidiaries has any financial interest in the products mentioned in this article.

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