Tooth-abrading Effect of Airbrasive System Using a Powder of S-01

Abstract

With the improved dentin adhesiveness of composite resin, the concept of traditional restoration treatment has been reconsidered, leading to the possibility of treatment without persisting with the cavity form. These improvements have also influenced the methods of cavity preparation, and various tooth abrading methods in addition to those using an air turbine and electric engine have been selected. Clinical applications of laser with less discomfort during tooth abrading or an approach by means of airbrasive have also been attempted in recent years. In the airbrasive method, the abrading of enamel, dentin and decalcified tooth structure is efficiently performed by changing the powder used and thus various powder preparations have been tried. Although alumina powder can quickly abrade not only dentin but also enamel owing to its excellent tooth abrading capacity, selective abrading of the affected tooth is difficult because of its superior abrading effect mainly on sound teeth but scarcely on decalcified tooth structure. In addition, alumina powder is a hard and chemically stable material and thus the scattered powder may affect the patient's, operator's or co-operator's health or the surrounding apparatus. In order to improve the efficacy of abrading decalcified tooth structure and the bio-safety of scattered powder, we conducted an experiment using sodium sulfite powder(S-01), a kind of food additive. In the experiment, the abraded depth obtained when alumina or S-01 powder was used for abrading sound or decalcified teeth was compared by using bovine teeth. As a result, S-01 powder seemed unsuitable for abrading sound teeth but suitable for selectively abrading decalcified enamel or dentin, suggesting its clinical usefulness. For clinical use, although it is difficult to remove the softened dentin under a full cast crown without grinding the margin of the crown, the airbrasive method using S-01 powder is suitable for such cases.