The Air-Flow system (synonym: powder jet technique) is a procedure for professional tooth cleaning (PZR), with which hard stains and microbial soft plaque deposited on the tooth can be gently removed by a powder–water-air mixture, and in places inaccessible for home dental care. The classic Air-Flow method, like treatment with comparable systems such as the PROPHYFlex attachment, is used for supragingival (above the gumline) prophylaxis (cleaning for prevention). Here, only the swirled powder–water-air mixture comes into contact with the tooth surface, the patient is spared scratching noises caused by metal cleaning instruments, and the adjacent soft tissue and tooth surfaces are ideally not affected when used professionally.
Indications (areas of application)
Like the PROPHYFlex device, the Air-Flow system is used as an alternative or supplement to the traditional cleaning technique, which uses, for example, rotating cleaning brushes or cones plus polishing pastes of different grain size and abrasiveness, to remove discoloration caused in particular by food and stimulants such as coffee, tea, nicotine or red wine, but also by medication. In particular, the approximal spaces (interdental spaces) are usually easier to reach with the powder jet devices than with conventional cleaning methods. If tartar also needs to be removed, the classic air-flow method can be combined with hand instruments or ultrasonic scalers. As a new alternative, the manufacturer offers here the Air-Flow Master System, in which supragingival cleaning (above the gum line) is supplemented by a system for cleaning subgingival tooth surfaces (in the gum pocket), which is also based on the powder jet method with sodium bicarbonate and for which special nozzles have been developed that can be inserted into the sulcus (furrow between the gum and tooth). The cleaning powder, which consists mainly of sodium bicarbonate (CHNaO3), is now offered in six flavors. The range is extended by the Air-Flow Powder Soft, which the manufacturer recommends for patients with very sensitive gums, so that gingival irritation can be avoided as far as possible.
Before use
- Due to possible dust generation, the patient should not wear contact lenses during treatment.
- Both patient and the treatment team will be equipped with protective goggles.
- To reduce bacterial density, a prior mouth rinse with 0.2% chlorhexidine digluconate for 30 sec is recommended.
- Vaseline on the lips prevents drying of the sodium bicarbonate powder.
The procedure
- Ideally, to minimize dust generation during treatment, the rapid suction and saliva ejector are used.
- The powder jet nozzle is kept at a distance of 3 mm to 5 mm from the tooth surface.
- The nozzle must be held at an angle between 30° and 60° to the tooth axis away from the gumline towards the incisal edge or occlusal surface in the classic air-flow method, i.e. not directly onto the gingiva (gums), in order to minimize irritation and injury.
- The nozzle is moved in a light circular motion over the tooth surfaces.
- After cleaning with the powder jet, all tooth surfaces are finely smoothed with ultra-fine-grained polishing pastes.
After use
- Should ideally be fluoridation of tooth surfaces with appropriate varnishes or touch-up solutions
- The patient should refrain from staining foods and beverages for two to three hours, since the tooth surfaces are freed from the protective enamel cuticle (organic, non-mineralized layer of salivary proteins) by the cleaning process and are more susceptible to the storage of color particles until it is formed again
Possible complications
- Irritation of the gingiva (gums) cannot be completely avoided, even with professional procedures.
- In the case of improper use of powder jet devices, injuries and emphysema formation (pressing air into the soft tissue) with a corresponding risk of embolism can occur due to an incorrect angle of the powder jet into the gingival pocket therein.With subgingival treatment targeted in the gingival pocket with the Perio-Flow nozzle, according to the manufacturer, emphysema formation is excluded.
- With regular use, a loss of tooth structure can not be ruled out.
The Air-Flow designation is powder jet equipment from the company EMS Electro Medical Systems S.A.. With the designation PROPHYflex it is a question of powder jet devices from the company KaVo Dental GmbH.
