Preventive dentistry in Honolulu
Air polishing with EMS AIRFLOW®
At our EMS GBT Certified practice, we use a fine spray of air, warm water and powder to lift away plaque and surface stains. If coffee or tea leaves marks that brushing misses, ask us about AIRFLOW at your next cleaning.
The fine spray from an EMS AIRFLOW® handpiece.
An EMS GBT Certified practice
A Downtown Dental Group completed the EMS Guided Biofilm Therapy (GBT) certification process, including hands-on training through the Swiss Dental Academy and feedback from 50 patients. EMS lists our Honolulu office in its GBT Finder.
Select the building icon and search for “A Downtown Dental Group.”
See what brushing can miss
Plaque is a sticky film of bacteria, also called biofilm. It can be hard to see, especially along the gums and between teeth. A temporary dye colors the plaque and shows your hygienist exactly where to clean.
Before the dye. At a glance, these teeth look fairly clean.
With the dye. Purple outlines reveal plaque near the gums and between the teeth.
After cleaning. The same teeth are shown once the highlighted plaque has been removed.
Clinical example and photographs provided by EMS.
A clinician walks a patient through a hygiene visit in this EMS demonstration.
What happens at your visit?
We start with your teeth and gums.
Tell us about sensitive spots, bleeding gums or stains that bother you. Your hygienist checks your teeth, gums and any implants to decide where air polishing will help.
You feel a warm, fine spray.
After highlighting plaque, we guide the spray along the areas that picked up the dye. If a spot feels tender, tell us so we can adjust the setting or pause.
We check for hardened buildup.
Once the soft plaque is gone, tartar is easier to find. We remove remaining deposits with a scaler, then show you the spots that may need extra attention at home.
A closer look at the equipment
The AIRFLOW® unit
Our AIRFLOW® Prophylaxis Master lets the hygienist adjust the spray and water temperature during your cleaning.
The fine powder
The handpiece mixes powder with air and water. The spray lifts soft buildup and helps remove surface stains from coffee or tea.
The ultrasonic tip
Where tartar has hardened onto a tooth, the hygienist can switch to a slender, vibrating tip to loosen it.
Questions about air polishing
Will it whiten my teeth?
Removing surface stains can reveal more of your natural tooth color. Changing the underlying shade of a tooth requires a separate whitening treatment.
Can you clean around my implants?
Yes. Around an implant crown or a full-arch implant bridge, plaque can collect in places a toothbrush has trouble reaching. We select the powder and tip for the surface we’re cleaning and show you how to reach those areas at home.
What if I need a deep cleaning?
If you have gum disease, we’ll check the depth of the spaces around your teeth and recommend the care you need. Air polishing can be part of that plan. Hardened deposits below the gumline may also need scaling and root planing.
Ask about AIRFLOW® at your next cleaning
Mention air polishing when you request your visit so our team can plan for you. You’ll find us at 1139 Bethel Street in downtown Honolulu, across from the Hawaiʻi Theatre.
Our reception area and a treatment room on Bethel Street.