Does air polishing reduce treatment time compared with conventional prophylaxis?

Yes, the evidence consistently supports that air polishing reduces treatment time compared with conventional prophylaxis methods.

In a split-mouth randomized controlled trial, the marginal mean treatment time for air polishing was significantly shorter at 325 seconds per quadrant compared with 407 seconds for rubber cup polishing ^[1]. A separate trial evaluating air polishing followed by targeted ultrasonic calculus removal versus conventional ultrasonic scaling and rubber cup polishing also identified time-saving as one of the principal benefits of the air polishing protocol ^[2]. A systematic review of 14 RCTs in supportive periodontal therapy similarly concluded that air polishing devices are a faster option compared with conventional techniques, including hand and ultrasonic instrumentation ^[3]. Another systematic review reinforced that air polishing can serve as an effective alternative to conventional instrumentation for biofilm control, with patient comfort and efficiency noted among its advantages ^[4].

It is worth noting that the absolute time savings may vary depending on the clinical context, the powder used, and whether adjunctive ultrasonic calculus removal is still required after air polishing. Clinical judgement should guide how these time-efficiency findings are applied in individual patient care.