Warm Air Tooth Dryer

Rafi Romano, D.M.D, MSc.

www.lingualnews.com, Vol 1 No 2,  March 2003

Wetness was considered having an effect on the shear bond strength of composites to enamel and dentin surfaces for many years. The etched enamel-composite resin bond is the most reliable bond known to us. Moisture and dentin primers are the two most important variables that can interfere with this bond.

Recent developments of primers and composites have succeeded to enforce the bond strength in a humid environment. Yet, most orthodontists believe in a dry field as the keynote factor for success in the bonding process.

Many researches investigated the effectiveness of warm air tooth dryer versus cool air from an ordinary syringe.

Iwami and al (1998) investigated the effect of enamel and dentin surface wetness on shear bond strength of composites. Their findings were that some water might be needed by dentin surfaces or for primers to obtain high bond strength on the dentin surface, but that drying methods did not affect bonding strength to enamel surfaces either before priming or after conditioning. 

Jain and Stewart (2000) investigated the effect of dentin primer on shear bond strength of composite resin to moist and dry enamel. Their findings were that specimens without primer on moist enamel showed very poor penetration of adhesive and composite resin into the etched enamel microporosities. Dry enamel on the other hand will ensure bond strength without dependence on primers that will absorb the remaining of water drops. 

Allen and al (1992) found that the effect of warm air on the shear bond strength of composite resins to etched enamel may be dependent on the resin used and the time between bonding and testing. 

Various warm air tooth driers exist in the market. Dunne and Millar (1994) found that rechargeable, warm-air tooth dryer compared with those of an established mains electricity powered dryer (Handi-Dri) are considered safer and more convenient and offer advantages over other methods. 

Dunne and al (1996) made a survey of dental air lines and examined various drying techniques.The aims of their study were:
1. To assess the prevalence and severity of water and oil contamination in 20 dental airlines in clinical use, using a commercial test kit, LP Aerotest.
2. To determine the effect, in vitro, of such contamination on the shear bond strengths to etched bovine enamel, of composite resin and a dedicated bonding agent. The enamel was dried using either an oil-and-water-contaminated 3-in-1 syringe, a warm-air tooth-dryer, silica gel-dried air or blotting paper, prior to bonding.
A total of 11 (5 mm diameter) composite discs were bonded in each group. The samples were shear tested 72 hours later at a cross-head speed of 50 mm/min. All airlines had > 100 mg/m3 water and traces of oil (< 0.5 mg/m3) were present in 50% of samples. The mean shear bond strengths (MPa) for the 3-in-1 syringe, tooth-dryer, dried air and blotting paper-dried teeth were 14.5 +/- 3.8, 19.0 +/- 2.6, 19.6 +/- 4.2 and 19.7 +/- 1.9 respectively. The differences between the values for the tooth dryer, dry air and blotting paper were not significant (P > 0.01) but a significant difference (P < 0.01) was observed between these and the 3-in-1 syringe.

In conclusion, most of the clinicians and researches recommend on warm-air tooth drier over the 3-in-1 syringes. A-dec Warm Air Tooth Dryer ® can quickly prepare the tooth surface for bonding composites and is a simple and reliable solution to drying preps. It also provides more comfort for the patient by producing a gentle flow of warm air. (www.a-dec.com).

⇔ A-dec Warm Air Tooth Dryer ®

REFERENCES

1. Iwami Y, Yamamoto H, Kawai K, Ebisu S.: Effect of enamel and dentin surface wetness on shear bond strength of composites. J Prosthet Dent 1998 Jul;80(1):20-6

2. Jain P, Stewart GP: Effect of dentin primer on shear bond strength of composite resin to moist and dry enamel. Oper Dent 2000 Jan-Feb;25(1):51-8

3. Allen JD, Breeding LC, Pashley DH: Effect of warm air on the shear bond strength of composite resins. Quintessence Int 1992 Apr;23(4):289-96

4. Dunne SM, Millar BJ: Examination of tooth-drying techniques: evaluation in-vitro of a prototype warm-air tooth dryer. Eur J Prosthodont Restor Dent 1994 Jun;2(4):155-9

5. Dunne SM, Millar BJ, Davies B: A survey of dental airlines and an examination of tooth-drying techniques. Prim Dent Care 1996 Sep;3(2):61-4

www.lingualnews.com 
Adult and Lingual Orthodontics
EDITORS:
Dr. Silvia Geron D.M.D., M.Sc
Dr. Rafi Romano D.M.D., M.Sc
Dr. Pablo Echarri D.M.D., M.Sc