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by Dr Tony Hsu, The Practice, West End, QLD
We purchased the Woodpecker air polisher because some of our patients have sensitive teeth and find it uncomfortable during a clean. We also have a lot of patients whose teeth are stained by coffee, tea and tobacco so we needed something that would remove those stains quickly and effectively.
What’s good about it
Not only is this unit efficient but it’s comfortable for the patient and provides good clinical outcomes. It also allows me to get through a clean much quicker, saving time. Patients with sensitive teeth no longer wriggle and move when being treated with the Woodpecker.
Some prophy paste contains fluoride so will be rejected by our anti-fluoride patients. Now we can give them a full clean without a problem. The Woodpecker is easy to use and the results are fantastic. It blasts all the stains away nicely.
The powder used with the unit comes in different levels of hardness so you can choose the most suitable for each patient. It removes soft plaque and even some calculus. I use it for deep cleans with an attachment that allows for cleaning right down into the root. The unit and powder are gentle on implants and can be used to clean around that area.
Patients love it because the water is warm. This reduces a lot of sensitivity and makes clients willing to come back for a return visit in six months’ time. It’s also a great way to clean braces as it gets into all the nooks and crannies.
What’s not so good
Using the Woodpecker creates a bit of mess but no more than any other air polisher. The powder is more expensive than prophy paste.
