Method of clinical use
A number of air abrasion systems are available today such as the PrepMaster or EtchMaster (Groman Inc.), Airbrator (North Bay/Bioscience, LLC), PrepStart and PrepAir (Danville Engineering), or CrystalMark (CrystalMark Inc.) all of which work on the same principle. Some like the RONDOflex plus (KaVo) work on the principle of air abrasion technology with water spray. Operator controls are either mechanical or digital. Mechanical control is standard in most devices, and their control of powder flow rate (the primary determinant of overspray and consequent mess to be evacuated, washed or otherwise removed) is more tenuous than with digital control, which provides a consistent and minimal amount of powder while maintaining high efficiency. In selected devices digital control also allows for pulsed mode of operation, providing an interrupted air abrasive stream at settings from 0.5 to 2.0 seconds.
Air abrasion handpieces and nozzles are removable to facilitate sterilization and have working angles ranging from 0° to 120°. For precision cutting, as might be required for a preventive resin restoration, the 80° tip is more appropriate than the 45° tip. When shallow preparations are needed, as in the case of cervical erosion, the cutting patterns of the 45° tip are more appropriate.
For facial and lingual preparations, a 60° angle produces a shallower preparation and allows for evacuation of reflected spray.
Nozzle orifice diameters range from 200 to 800 μm. Larger nozzle orifices require higher powder flow rates and gas pressures to maintain cutting efficiency.
