Air abrasion: an emerging standard of care in conservative operative dentistry.

Air abrasion, in conjunction with microdentistry, has opened up a whole new method of treatment for patients that preserves far more tooth structure than was ever previously possible, with greater patient comfort and superior aesthetics. The resulting preparations and surfaces are also far better prepared to receive and retain bonded restorations compared with traditional methods of preparation. Air abrasion eliminates the needless destruction of sound tooth structure associated with traditional restorative techniques, while leaving the tooth ideally conditioned for the beneficial caries-inhibiting and strengthening properties of bonded restorations.