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Air polishing solutions for supragingival and subgingival prophylaxis

A brief review of the Air Flow Handy 2+ and the Air Flow Perio systems by Tony Beale
creating a turbulent action that literally flushes out the eliminated biofilm. At this juncture, it must be realised that these subgingival procedures require the use of a fine-grained (25 micron) perio powder which is Glycine based, and is both tooth and tissue kind. This method is also most appropriate to the successful maintenance of dental implants, and can prove to be a highly successful form of prevention in combating the onset of perioimplantitis. With four out every five patients exhibiting some form of periodontitis, and of those 30% can be classified as severe, it will be seen that the Air Flow Handy Perio has an extremely high level of potential in preventive treatment programmes, with both Air Flow options offering the patient a far more comfortable scale and polish visit, with less stress and time saving for the practitioner and hygienist.

Figure 1: Air Flow Handy 2, showing turbine connection, powder reservoir and handpiece

Figure 2: The thin one-use tip that allows deep cleansing of pockets. Note its useful application in the prevention of perioimplantitis
conjunction with water to provide a fine jet-spray effect. Delivery is by a universal, and very slim, 120-degreesangled handpiece that is capable of reaching most intra-oral surfaces, with an optional 90-degree-angled handpiece available to accommodate the more awkward to reach lingual areas. A large powder reservoir allows for longer complete treatment periods with less frequent refilling, and the Air flow Handy 2+ can be directly attached to Borden and Mid West turbine connections, with couplers available for other systems such as Kavo, Bien Air, Siemens, W&H, and NSK. Subgingival prophylactic applications can now be accommodated by the Air Flow Handy Perio, which essentially uses the same principles as the Air flow Handy 2+ however, there are subtle differences between them.

Effective conventional supra and subgingival prophylaxis relies heavily on the skills of the hygienist and dental practitioner, and is also very dependent upon the correct choice of hand instruments. The instruments should ideally be of good quality, of the correct design and shape, and considerable time must be allotted to the actual prophylactic procedures to ensure successful removal of harmful or unsightly stains and deposits from the teeth and attached gingivae. These scaling and polishing treatments do not always prove to be a pleasant experience for the patient, so in recent years there has been an increased interest in the use of air abrasion or air polishing techniques as a more efficient and effective alternative. The Swiss manufacturer EMS introduced its Air Flow system approximately 20 years ago, and since then it has undergone several developmental changes. The latest innovation is the Air Flow Handy 2+, which continues to demonstrate how an air-driven system can provide extremely effective methods for both supragingival and subgingival procedures. The completely portable Air Flow Handy2+ unit is intended for supragingival prophylaxis, and will remove even the most stubborn stains from both anterior and posterior teeth. It uses a specially treated sodium bicarbonate powder (65 micron grain size), in

Figure 3: The supragingival and subgingival Air Flow polishing powders

Removing bacteria
The Air Flow Handy Perio is intended for subgingival applications, being very effective in the removal of harmful bacteria from periodontal pockets, and with no resultant damage to the root cementum. An extremely thin, uniquely designed single-use nozzle delivers the air, powder and water mixture deep into the pockets (it can probe up to 10mm depth),
Further information on the Air Flow handy 2+ and Air Flow Handy Perio is available from Optident Ltd, International Development Centre, Valley Drive, Ilkley, LS29 8AL. Call 01943 605050, email sales@optident.co.uk or visit www.optident.co.uk.