sandblasting
A surface treatment in which fine abrasive particles are propelled under air pressure onto a restoration to clean, roughen, or prepare it for bonding or coating.
Full Definition
In dental laboratory practice, sandblasting (also called air abrasion or airborneparticle abrasion) uses aluminium oxide or glass-bead particles expelled at high velocity to remove contaminants from metal or ceramic surfaces, create micromechanical retention for bonding agents, or clean oxide layers from alloy frameworks before opaque application. The particle size, air pressure, and distance from the substrate are carefully controlled to achieve the desired surface texture without damaging fine margins or thin ceramic walls. Aluminium oxide 50–110 µm at 2–4 bar is a common laboratory specification for metal surface preparation. Editors should note the preferred laboratory term is 'airborne-particle abrasion' in scientific literature, whereas 'sandblasting' is acceptable in general laboratory communication.
Usage
Usage note: Prefer 'airborne-particle abrasion' in scientific and clinical reports; 'sandblasting' is acceptable in standard laboratory work orders and instructions.
In Context
- "The zirconia coping was sandblasted with 50 µm aluminium oxide at 2 bar before bonding." — Laboratory processing protocol
- "Sandblasting of the metal framework removed residual investment and created adequate surface roughness for opaque adhesion." — Quality control checklist