In First Impressions George Freedman, DDS, gives readers a brief summary of products that have recently been introduced to dentistry, based on his clinical experience.
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Monarch Hydrating Instant Hand Sanitizer |
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that caregivers should thoroughly wash their hands in between, and sometimes during, patient procedures. First proposed by Professor Semmelweis, this is a practice that has been well established for more than a century. A major problem facing dental practitioners and staff is that soaps and water, combined with repeated cycles of drying, up to 100 handwashes per day in a busy practice, can desiccate hand surfaces. Sanitizers have been proposed as a solution. The chemical composition of the sanitizers must be acceptably gentle to the skin of the hands, nonirritating, and pleasant to use. The tissue tolerance to the sanitizer, which may be used many times daily to counter the effects of handwashing, must be complete. And the staff and practitioner must be able to insert his or her hands into gloves comfortably immediately after having used the sanitizer. The Monarch Hydrating Instant Hand Sanitizer from Air Techniques is an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that is safe, effective, and ideal for everyday use in the dental practice. It is a waterless gel that applies smoothly to the hands, and is effective against most common bacteria. Its microbead polymer formulation leaves a vitamin-enriched protective layer after application that helps to prevent drying and cracking of overwashed hands; these skin-enriching emollients make the hands feel smooth but never oily. A wax component in the formulation of the gel provides effectively smooth glove placement. The gel contains no hormone disrupting surfactants. Monarch Hydrating Instant Hand Sanitizer is enriched with aloe and a vitamin E/B complex, is lightly scented, and has a long lasting moisturizing effect that can continue through several handwashings.|
Waterpik Complete Care |
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The importance of patient home oral care is self-evident; without effective home care, overall oral health declines, the supporting soft and hard tissues weaken, and tooth structures deteriorate. The same applies to dental restorations and reconstruction, both functional and aesthetic. If patients cannot control their plaque and calculus unsupervised at home, the best efforts of the dentist are bound to fail. Routine maintenance is essential, but patients are not always as compliant as they should be. It is the practitioner’s responsibility to educate the patient in hygiene methods that are effective and patient-friendly as well, ensuring continued utilization. Water Pik has introduced their comprehensive Complete Care system, comprising of the Water Flosser and the Sensonic Professional Plus Toothbrush (PPT). The Water Flosser is an easier and more patient-friendly advanced alternative to string flossing that offers variable pulse pressure control and a reservoir capacity of almost 2 minutes. A wide range of well designed pulse tips allows the dentist to customize the patient’s home care efforts. Clinically proven to remove plaque biofilm, reduce inflammation, and decrease gingival bleeding, the Water Flosser has been shown to remove 99.9% of the plaque in a 3-second application. The Sensonic PPT is powered by a state-of-the-art, dual-speed control, sonic technology that delivers gentle, yet very effective, clinically proven faster plaque removal. The Sensonic PPT’s bristle speed, 25% faster than comparable sonic toothbrushes, enhances tooth cleansing. The Sensonic PPT whitens teeth and stimulates the soft tissues, promoting healthier gingiva. The ergonomic brush head design offers excellent access to all parts of the dentition. The Waterpik Complete Care is a comprehensive, easy and pleasant-to-use, and a clinically-proven solution to the problem of oral home care maintenance.|
Visalys Temp |
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Today’s indirect procedures assume that the practitioner will place a provisional restoration in the patient’s mouth between preparation and cementation appointments. These temporary restorations are required to protect the remaining dentition, to predict functional stability in the final PFM or ceramic materials (composite can be adjusted far more quickly and easily than ceramic), and to offer an interim aesthetically acceptable appearance to the patient. The official material should ideally be suited to anterior and posterior applications as well as single or multiple units, offer an easy clinical application technique to the dentist or designated auxiliary staff member, and require little or no polishing prior to insertion. Kettenbach’s innovative Visalys Temp is a provisional crown and bridge material that utilizes a multifunctional acrylic composite to offer highly stable and very fracture-resistant transitional restorations. Fewer provisional fractures mean fewer unexpected repair and adjustment visits to the dental office. Its proportion-controlled cartridge and automixing syringe tip assure a perfect consistency and mix every time, and it is easy to dispense and easy to use. Its provisionals are strong enough to be indicated for both short- and long-term use. The bisphenol A-free material has a minimal smear layer, providing a high luster surface even without polishing. The smooth surface of the Visalys Temp prevents biofilm and plaque buildup, simplifying home care, particularly in long-term implant applications. The material is easily and precisely trimmed, with minimal dust. It has been developed with a translucency, fluorescence, and opalescence that mimic the natural tooth, creating a highly aesthetic chameleon effect, while it is also available in 6 VITA shades and bleach for good measure. With Visalys Temps, your patients won’t spot the difference.|
SuperPost |
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Increasing numbers of dental patients are seeking endodontic treatment for their damaged teeth. The general population’s increased awareness of dental health and greater commitment to tooth retention are welcomed evolutions, largely attributed to the intensive education that the dental profession has undertaken. Endodontically treated teeth must be restored to function and form, and most of these procedures involve the insertion of bondable fiber posts into one or more of the prepared canals. The aesthetics, function, physical requirements, and clinical placement of fiber posts in anterior and posterior teeth are vastly different. Most post systems offer a single, one size fits all approach to these divergent clinical paradigms. The Dental Savings Club has introduced the bondable SuperPost postendodontic restorative system, which recognizes the differences between anterior and posterior applications, and provides appropriate clinical solutions for each. The SuperPost Anterior Kit offers double tapering glass fiber posts that are designed to follow canal anatomy with maximum conservation of the intraradicular dentin. (The canal preparation for a straight or parallel post inevitably removes more dentin towards the apex than is ideal.) The customized fit is guaranteed by the precise calibration of posts and reamers. The high concentration of glass fibers provides improved mechanical properties, high aesthetics and strength. The elasticity of the post material is similar to dentin, decreasing root stress and the risk of root fracture. The SuperPost Posterior Kit, in addition to the high concentration of glass fibers, has a metal filament that allows for radiographic visualization. The post’s conical tip requires less dentin removal in the apical third of the posterior canal. Its grooved parallel design offers excellent retention.Dr. Freedman is a founder and past president of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, a co-founder of the Canadian Academy for Esthetic Dentistry, and a Diplomate of the American Board of Aesthetic Dentistry. He is a visiting professor at the Universita di Firenze, Florence, Italy. He is the materials editor for Dentistry Today. He is the author or co-author of 11 textbooks, including his most recent textbook Contemporary Esthetic Dentistry (Elsevier), more than 700 dental articles, and numerous webinars and CDs, and is a team member of REALITY. He lectures internationally on dental aesthetics, adhesion, desensitization, composites, impression materials, and porcelain veneers. A graduate of McGill University in Montreal, Dr. Freedman maintains a private practice limited to aesthetic dentistry in Toronto. He can be reached at (905) 513-9191 or epdot@rogers.com.
