For many years we have used Sodium Bicarbonate but it is being replaced. The newest technology in dental abrasives is erythritol.
Firstly effectiveness. Erythritol is on of our alcohol sugars. Of all of them It has been shown to have the least effect on blood sugar. If the erythritol is absorbed by the body it is not metabolized and is excreted unchanged. Some will not even be absorbed and again pass through the body unchanged. The bacteria in the mouth however take this molecule up as if it were food. They cannot metabolize it either and so kills those bacteria and so reducing the amount of bacteria in the mouth and inside the gingival sulcus. With less bacteria there will be less inflammation in the mouth and increased health of the tissue.
Erythritol blasted against the tooth is not abrasive to the tooth structures or the composites, gold or porcelain we use to restore them. It is however effective a blasting away the biofilm and light calculus that adheres to the tooth. The comfortable air polishing system can effectively reach places that a metal scaler or Cavitron tip cannot.
On top of this important fact the powder size is much smaller. Sodium Bicarbonate is around 70uM in size but Erythritol is only 14uM. This means as it blasts even soft tissue there is no pain. it also reaches into the small niduses of the enamel structure that other molecules cannot get to. What remains is the smoothest feeling enamel that you have ever had.
SEM micrographs air-polishing powders: erythritol (E), glycine (G) and sodium bicarbonate (SB)
Implant surfaces as well are improved by the erythritol powder. According to research the implant surface is unchanged and as the erythritol powder sits in the sulcus of gum tissue around the implant it again is effective at reducing the number of bacteria and reduces their ability to create a mature biofilm. In people who build plaque up quickly and feel their teeth becoming “rough” or looking yellow this powder will help remove and refresh the surfaces.
With little effect on the human body. With great effect in reducing bacteria numbers. No harm to dental restorations and effective cleaning it is easy to see why we have chosen the EMS system as our hygiene system.
Our goal is always to work better and keep our patients comfortable. This is a win win.