At Falmouth Dental Arts, we’re always looking for ways to make your dental visits more comfortable, more effective, and more personalized. One of our favorite new tools is a cleaning technology called air polishing that has been proven to be effective and beneficial to our patients.
We use a system called the PROPHYflex, and patients often describe it as a “gentle power washer for the mouth.” It’s powerful enough to clean well, but gentle enough for sensitive smiles.
How Does Air Polishing Work?
Air polishing uses a soft spray of air, warm water, and fine powder to clean your teeth. Depending on your needs, we may use calcium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, or glycine powder.
This gentle combination helps remove surface stains, cleans away soft plaque, reaches hard-to-clean areas, and supports a healthier mouth by reducing acids and balancing pH levels.
Who Can Benefit from Air Polishing?
Air polishing is ideal for patients with sensitive teeth or gums, enamel wear or gum recession. We will also suggest it if you have braces or orthodontic appliances, and crowns, bridges, veneers, or implants.
Because it’s so gentle, it’s safe to use around dental work and sensitive areas.
Powerful, Yet Comfortable
Air polishing helps us clean above and below the gumline, between teeth, and around crowns, bridges, braces, and implants. It also gives our hygienists better access to areas that traditional tools may struggle to reach.
Because it removes stains and soft plaque so effectively, air polishing can reduce how much ultrasonic or hand scaling is needed during your visit. In some cases, it can even replace the traditional spinning polisher.
Not Just for Cleanings
Air polishing isn’t only used during hygiene visits. Our dentists also use it to prepare tooth surfaces before restorations, help maintain implants, and remove cosmetic stains safely.
Every smile is different, and we believe your dental care should be too. Air polishing is just one of the ways we tailor your cleaning to be both effective and comfortable. If you’re curious about whether air polishing is right for you — or simply want to learn more — we encourage you to ask your dental hygienist at your next visit. We’re always happy to answer questions, explain your options, and help you feel confident and comfortable before, during, and after your cleaning. Your smile is a team effort, and FDA is here to support you every step of the way.
