|
( Home
) ( Doctor ) ( Staff
) ( Our Office ) ( Procedures
) ( Contact Us ) ( Links
)
Drilless Dentistry
What is the KCP and how does it
work?
It's a new instrument that
can be used as an alternative to the drill in many
procedures. Air Abrasion (drilless dentistry) a microscopically fine powder
is carried to the
tooth by a stream of air, gently spraying away decay. In a
simple sense,
you could say it works like a precise miniature sandblaster.
What
does it mean to you as a patient?
Thanks
to its precision and gentleness, the KCP allows us to treat decay
at an earlier stage without as much removal of healthy tooth
material,
thereby helping to preserve the strength of the tooth.
Teeth treated this
way may be less likely to require crowns in the future.
Smaller fillings are
less susceptible to wear and may last longer. The KCP system
creates a
cavity surface that is so ideal for use with tooth-colored
composite
fillings, we can place those fillings faster than ever
before. In some
instances, the KCP actually allows us to complete your treatment
in fewer
visits.
Will It Hurt?
The
Aspect of the KCP that many patients appreciate most its comfort.
The KCP system greatly reduces heat and vibrations, two
sources of
discomfort traditionally associated with fillings.
That's why the KCP is
often used without anesthetics. This also enhances
our ability to treat
patients who are pregnant or medically compromised.
With the KCP, we
can often treat children without the two things they fear
most the needle
and the drill. But since for some people the KCP may
involve minor
discomfort, it would be inaccurate to call it
"painless".
Is It Safe?
Absolutely.
The tiny particles we use are alpha alumnia, a pure,
biocompatible substance long used in medicine and food, In
fact, it is a
prime ingredient in several popular whitening
toothpastes. Only a tiny
amount of this microscopically fine powder is actually used
in each
procedure and most of it is immediately removed by our
evacuation
system. Scientific tests show that patients would
have to undergo about
28 typical 20-30 second KCP procedures in order to inhale
enough alpha
alumnia to equal the weight of one grain of table
salt. The amount inhaled
in a single procedure is about 1000 times less than the
limit established
by the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration.
What Can It Be Used For?
Besides tooth-colored fillings, the
KCP is very useful in a number of
cosmetic procedures such as veneers, inlays and onlays.
It also allows
us to apply protective sealants in a matter of seconds a
time frame even
shorter than the attention span of most youngsters. |
