What does AIRFLOW change in dental cleaning?
Calculus, surface staining and bacterial plaque are not the same thing. That is also where the difference between cleaning methods begins.
When dental cleaning is mentioned, what usually comes to mind is removing calculus or tea and coffee stains from the teeth. Yet professional cleaning is not done simply to make the teeth look cleaner. It also has an important place in protecting the health of the gums and of the tissues that support the teeth.
To understand the difference systems such as AIRFLOW make, three concepts that are often confused need to be separated first: bacterial plaque, calculus and surface staining.
The deposits we can see are not all of them
The bacterial layer that forms on tooth surfaces is called plaque, or biofilm. One of the important functions of daily oral care is to remove this layer regularly.
Over time plaque can mineralise, harden and turn into calculus. Calculus that has formed cannot be removed by brushing; it needs to be cleaned professionally. Plaque and calculus accumulating at and below the gum margin matter in assessing gum inflammation and problems in the supporting tissues.
Surface staining is different. Discolouration caused by factors such as tea, coffee or tobacco is not the same thing as calculus. The nature of these deposits is taken into account in the cleaning plan.
How does AIRFLOW work?
EMS is the brand that manufactures AIRFLOW systems. The AIRFLOW application uses a controlled mixture of air, water and a special powder. On suitable surfaces this mixture helps remove biofilm and extrinsic staining.
The properties of the powder used matter. There are different powders for different applications; the product and nozzle to be used around the gums or on more sensitive surfaces are chosen according to the area of application. So not every air-water-powder application has the same characteristics.
What difference might the patient feel?
One difference is that the procedure may be more comfortably tolerated by some people. In clinical research carried out during periodontal care, air-powder applications performed with erythritol powder have been shown to be able to create less sensation of discomfort than some conventional cleaning methods.
However, this does not mean “there will be no sensitivity at all” or “the procedure is completely painless” for everyone. The patient’s existing sensitivity, the condition of the gums and the extent of the procedure to be carried out can affect the experience.
Another difference is the way it works on biofilm. With a suitable nozzle and powders of low abrasiveness, biofilm cleaning can be carried out in selected areas. This feature can be considered particularly as part of regular periodontal care. Which method will be used in which area is again determined according to the examination findings.
Does it also remove hard calculus on its own?
AIRFLOW’s prominent field of use is biofilm and surface staining. Particularly with hard, firmly attached calculus, cleaning with ultrasonic devices or hand instruments may be required.
Indeed, in some EMS systems AIRFLOW and ultrasonic cleaning are found on the same device platform. They are not the same as each other; they are tools that can be used together for different needs.
For this reason, using both AIRFLOW and other cleaning instruments in one session does not mean the procedure is inadequate. It may mean that methods suited to the type of deposit and the area it is in are being used together.
Is conventional scaling now inadequate?
No. Professional cleaning carried out with hand instruments and ultrasonic devices is among the fundamental applications of gum treatment. The guideline of the European Federation of Periodontology also recommends that cleaning below the gum be carried out with hand instruments, with sonic/ultrasonic devices, or with these used together.
AIRFLOW providing an advantage in certain areas does not mean the other methods do not work. Research does not show an unconditional superiority in every clinical outcome either. For example, in one study improvement was seen with both methods, while the conventional method gave better results in some tissue measurements; in patient comfort, the air-powder application was reported to come to the fore.
Is it normal for deposits to build up again after cleaning?
Professional cleaning does not replace daily oral care. Plaque can form again; for this reason brushing, appropriate interdental cleaning and regular assessment must continue. Recurring bleeding of the gums should likewise be seen not merely as a reason to book another cleaning appointment, but as a finding that needs to be assessed.
The interval for check-ups and care is not the same for everyone. It is determined individually, taking into account any history of gum disease, how effective oral care is, and other risks.
At Akça Diş, AIRFLOW is used as part of professional cleaning in situations where it is considered necessary. Which tools will be used is decided after assessing the teeth and the gums.
What matters is not only the name of the device, but assessing correctly which deposit is where and removing it appropriately.