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

Authored by 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
 
ABSTRACT
National Institute of Dental Research Surveys indicate that the incidence of pit and fissure caries constitutes a higher proportion of the total caries incidence among U.S. teens and children than in the past. Air-abrasive technology may provide a more conservative alternative in the diagnosis and treatment of pit and fissure caries than traditional techniques using handpieces. The authors review characteristics of pit and fissure lesions and discuss methods for diagnosing and treating these lesions using air-abrasive technology.

Air abrasion was developed in the 1940's as an alternative to the low-speed, belt-driven handpieces used at that time. The S.S. White Company introduced the Airdent air-abrasive unit in 1951. The technology enjoyed a brief period of popularity due to its patient-friendly aspects; no heat, vibration or bone-conducted noise. The arrival of the Borden air rotor, the first air turbine handpiece, in the late 1950s however, quickly replaced alternatives such as the Airdent.
 
Since its recent re-emergence, air-abrasive technology again offers an alternative to conventional handpieces. Using a pressurized stream of microscopic non-toxic abrasive powder, the technology provides a new means for rapidly removing enamel, dentin, decay and previous restorations. Although not appropriate for every clinical situation, the air-abrasive system offers several advantages over conventional handpieces. For example, the air-abrasive system minimizes heat, vibration and bone-conducted noise associated with conventional means of caries removal since the cutting is accomplished by air pressure. (Footnote: 1-3) Also, patients treated with the air-abrasion system rarely request anesthesia. (Footnote: 4)
 
The air-abrasive system uses a narrowly focused particle stream that abrades tooth structure in proportion to the particle size, air pressure and nozzle distance employed. Therefore, this newly revived technology may provide a more conservative means of diagnosing and treating pit and fissure caries than conventional methods. Exploring new avenues of addressing pit and fissure caries is particularly important now because recent surveys (Footnote: 5,6) indicate that the incidence of pit and fissure caries has become a higher proportion of the total caries incidence among U.S. teens and children.
 
This article reviews the characters of pit and fissure lesions and introduces methods to detect and treat pit and fissure caries with air-abrasive technology.
 

• pit and fissure caries • air-abrasive technoligy/methods •
• discussion • summary • bibliography • close window •