The ARS Technique(air rotor stripping)

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(Before & After) Coil Spring or Separator placed to make space between teeth.
(Fig. A) Compressed coil spring retention to obtain open field. Open interproximal tooth contact area provides visual access to the tooth surface to be reduced.
(Fig. B) Open field ready for ARS.
(Fig. C) ARS in open field 0.5 mm enamel removed from each tooth surface; creating 1.0 mm of space to straighten teeth. The reduced surfaces are reshaped to resemble the original surface.
Additional contact points are reduced on subsequent visits.
(Fig. D) Advanced coil spring and ARS
(Fig. E) Advanced coil spring and ARS

699L-Tapered fissure crosscut carbide bur for enamel reduction*
135EF-Ultra fine diamond for contouring and finishing*

THE ARS TECHNIQUE

Resolves Moderate Crowding Quickly and Painlessly.

Individuals with natural, well aligned lower incisor teeth have smaller teeth when compared to the average population tooth size. Correction of malocclusion often involves reshaping/slenderizing teeth.

Air-Rotor Slenderizing (Reduction) is the precise removal of enamel between teeth to create space for faster/easier orthodontic treatment. Tooth surfaces are reshaped to resemble the original surface. ARS resolves mild to moderate crowding (2-8) mm. The ARS procedure avoids undesirable expansion and offers an alternative to the extraction of teeth.

The ARS process is identical to naturally occurring wear between the teeth when coarse foods are eaten, and does not cause periodontal disease or proneness to dental decay. A sealant is placed on the recontoured tooth surface to protect the tooth surfaces) from decay. Patient use of a fluoride mouth rinse is recommended after ARS to remineralize the tooth surface(s).

ARS can be done at any time during treatment. The ARS procedure is done quickly and painlessly.

Sequential, Progressive Space Control

The teeth are aligned first with Segmental Orthodontics (braces). To provide visual access, the tooth contact area to be reduced is opened by placement of a coil spring or thick separator between the teeth. (See diagram). The teeth are slenderized.

Additional contact points are reduced on subsequent visits, usually working from molars to bicuspids. Teeth are progressively positioned like beads on a string until the consolidated space is adequate to correct lower incisor crowding.