Airflow in Santiago: prophylaxis without pain or abrasion

Airflow is a dental prophylaxis technique that uses a controlled jet of air, warm water, and low-abrasion erythritol powder to remove biofilm, stains, and discoloration from the tooth surface, including accessible subgingival zones. Unlike traditional ultrasonic-and-scaler cleaning, Airflow does not scrape the tooth surface or require mechanical pressure on the gums.

We apply the Guided Biofilm Therapy (GBT) protocol developed by EMS, which structures the session into 8 steps: diagnosis, disclosure with biofilm-revealing dye, patient motivation, Airflow, Piezon (when needed), check, maintenance, and final check. It's not a generic cleaning: it's an evidence-based, reproducible clinical protocol that prioritizes minimally invasive care.

When is it especially useful? Patients with coffee, tea, red wine, or tobacco stains. Patients with orthodontics (brackets or aligners) where biofilm accumulates in hard-to-reach zones. Patients with dental implants, where traditional scalers can damage titanium surfaces. Children and patients with dental sensitivity where classic scraping causes discomfort. And patients who simply want a more comfortable, more effective cleaning.

In a single 30–45 minute session, most patients see a visible difference in the color and shine of their teeth. It's not a whitening, but by removing superficial stains the tooth's natural color regains its luminosity. For intrinsic stains or actual whitening, we combine Airflow as a preliminary step to a professional whitening treatment.

Maintenance frequency depends on each patient's profile. In general we recommend a session every 4 to 6 months to maintain periodontal health and chromatic aesthetics. Patients with orthodontics, implants, or high consumption of chromogenic substances (daily coffee, wine, tobacco) benefit from shorter intervals.