Visiting the hygienist, like doing a tax return or reading the small print on insurance documents, is something that requires me to unearth my inner grown up. I’ve always found it galling to willingly spend money and time subjecting myself to pain for half an hour – whatever the long term gains.
Well no longer! That was hygiene visits of old. I now actively look forward to them because I’ve been lucky enough to experience Airflow cleaning in my last few visits. I can report this treatment has significantly upgraded the whole experience. There’s now zero soreness, plus when I leave the stains on my teeth have all but vanished so they look considerably brighter and whiter.
Rosie’s teeth before and after her Airflow cleaning treatment, which removed tea and coffee staining
Kristina Limbu, periodontal hygienist at The A.B.C. Smile practice in central London and the woman behind my teeth transformation here, says Airflow technology is a ‘genuine game changer for many patients because hygiene appointments have traditionally been associated with discomfort and sensitivity.’
If this, and the promise of sparkling gnashers, appeals then you are probably wondering what Airflow is and how you book it.
Well, Airflow cleaning combines warm water with a fine powder that is then sprayed at the teeth (powered by compressed air) to power wash them. According to Kristina it is ‘excellent at removing biofilm, plaque, and surface staining.’ (The caveat, she says is ’it cannot remove very heavy hard calculus/tartar on its own in every case. Sometimes traditional ultrasonic or hand scaling is still needed alongside it.’).
Kristina is also clear this isn’t a whitening treatment, but I’m telling you from my personal experience that removing six months worth of tea and coffee staining from my teeth made them look much brighter and more dazzling.
Rosie with her post-treatment teeth. Kristina Limbu, a periodontal hygienist, said the treatment is the ‘gold standard’ of air cleaning
So where do you find it? Well, it’s available in many private dental surgeries. Message or call them and ask if their hygienists offer Guided Biofilm Therapy (GBT) – the umbrella name for this kind of air cleaning. If you want exactly the same treatment I had then ask for Airflow which is produced by EMS, a leading company in this field. Kristina says Airflow is the ‘gold standard’ of air cleaning ‘due to the advanced technology, warm water feature, and very fine powders they use.’
How often can you have it done? ‘There isn’t a strict yearly limit for most healthy patients’ says Kristina. ‘Typically, patients come everyone 3-4 months, especially those who are prone to staining, gum disease, or plaque build-up.’
I ask her if there is any damage from this treatment? Kristina says not. ‘There are very few downsides when it is used correctly. Modern powders are very fine and low abrasive. Some even have antibacterial properties.’ (She does concede older “classic” air polishing powders were much coarser and could potentially roughen restorations such as composite bonding or veneers if overused).
Can you find air cleaning at your NHS practice? Kristina tells me ‘some practices may offer it but it’s much more commonly found in private ones due to the additional equipment costs and appointment time involved.’
It pays to do your research. My friend recently had a hygiene appointment – with old school tools – and it cost him £80 and lasted 9 minutes. He left bleeding and disgruntled. Vote with your feet, or your teeth, and find a practice that’ll power wash. I guarantee it’ll make you smile.
The Hygiene Scale with Airflow Polish is £140.
