Abstract
This study investigated the attempt to replace alumina in the air abrasion system with an alternative material that is effective at cutting and also has remineralization potential. The powder samples were randomized into three groups: group 1-alumina (composed of aluminium and oxygen), group 2-45S5 (composed of 45% silica, 24.5% calcium oxide, 24.5% sodium oxide and 6% phosphorus pentoxide in weight percentage) and group 3-alumina + 45S5. Thirty human enamel blocks and microscope glass slides of 0.5 mm thickness were randomly divided into these three groups. The time taken to cut a hole through the glass slide and for the cutting of human enamel blocks was recorded, the cutting time was fixed at 15 s. The depths of the cavities were measured using a periodontal probe and the enamel blocks were then analysed by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The mean time taken to cut a hole through the microscope glass slide was 2.96, 23.01 and 3.02 s for groups 1, 2 and 3, respectively. After cutting the human enamel blocks, the mean cavity depths produced were measured to be 2.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mm for groups 1, 2 and 3, respectively. The SEM micrographs revealed that the cavities formed by 45S5 were more conical in shape, whereas cavities produced by alumina and alumina + 45S5 were more cylindrical. The combined use of alumina and 45S5 has demonstrated a promising cutting efficiency and it has the potential to achieve effective cutting with the possibility of the remineralization.