First Impressions: June 2013

OraVerse
Septodont USA

The major drivers that ushered in the golden age of dentistry were the high-speed handpiece and the increasing use of local anesthetic to make the pa-tient more comfortable during a variety of dental procedures. In the 1990s, cosmetic dentistry added to the mo-mentum. Local anesthesia as required to make the patient totally insensitive to the dental procedures, particularly when combined with a pre-application of topical, has become the clinical standard in modern practice. On the downside, oral areas that are anesthetized tend to feel numb, look and feel distorted, and may cause the patient to drool and speak with difficulty for extended periods after the clinical treatment is over. Septodont’s OraVerse is the only local anesthesia reversal agent that speeds the pa-tient’s return to normal feeling and performance. As the practitioner approaches the end of the clinical procedure, a cartridge of OraVerse (phentolamine mesylate) is injected into the anesthetized area along the same route as the earlier desensitizing injection; the reversing agent chemically neutralizes the effects of the anesthetic, hastening the return of localized sensation, facial symmetry, and full, unimpaired functionality. The use of OraVerse clearly demonstrates the practice’s concern for the comfort and appearance of its patients. When this technique is actively discussed with patients (in addition to being used), they are likely to mention the process to their friends and families, increasing referrals by inexpensive word-of-mouth. In addition to those who are likely to seek a rapid unnumbing (individuals who interact with the public, business people, etc), the following individuals are likely to benefit from OraVerse: young and old cheek/lip biters and diabetics (who need to eat at prescribed times). Differentiate and distingiush your practice with OraVerse.
For more information, call (800) 872 8305 or visit septodontusa.com or oraverse.com.

EPIC 10
BIOLASE Technology

Today, lasers are far more commonplace in the dental practice. Many practices have a laser in every operatory for convenience and “at-hand” efficiency. BIOLASE Technology re-cently introduced the EPIC 10 laser, cleared in the United States for 3 therapy modes: soft-tissue surgery, tooth whitening, and pain therapy. The unit is controlled through the intuitive touchscreen interface that requires less individual tuning of settings and comes with 16 common procedure presets. It is a portable unit that delivers up to 10W at peak power. The exclusive diode wavelength cuts soft tissue more cleanly with excellent hemostasis and patient comfort. Tooth whitening is also a major indication, as an average EPIC 10 tooth-bleaching session takes only 20 minutes of chair treatment time. The LaserGel20 bleaching gel is available in 5-packs. Pain therapy for the temporary relief of minor oral pain is a new area for dental laser treatment; the technique utilizes the deep-tissue handpiece that can be controlled for varying parameters such as spot size, thus avoiding inadvertent damage to surrounding tissues. Patient comfort is a predominant matter to the practitioner; EPIC 10 allows more clinical procedures to be completed more comfortably, with the use of less anesthetic. The EPIC 10’s ComfortPulse delivers precisely dosed diode energy micropulses (as short as one ten millionth of a second) directly to the target tissue. The alternating “downtime” is the reason that the patient does not perceive any pain. The energized micropulses are simply too short for human nerve endings to be stimulated. The cordless EPIC 10 can easily be moved from one operatory to the next, without concern for foot switch cables and other corded paraphernalia.
For more information, call (888) 424-6527 or visit the Web site located at biolase.com.

Radiation Badge Service Instadose Dosimeter
ICCare

The level of radiation to patients who are undergoing initial or recall appointments is exceedingly small. Digital radiography has further decreased these radiation levels. But for those who work with radiation daily, safety and ongoing monitoring should be paramount. Given today’s level of precautions, it is unlikely that members of the dental team in-volved in radiography are exposed to dangerous levels of ionization. Equip-ment can break down, however, and safety techniques can lapse. Govern-ment-based dosimetry for private dental practices has largely disappeared, yet many high-risk individuals (pregnant, lactating, radiation-treated) may be employed in close proximity to radiation sources. ICCare’s Radiation Badge Service instadose Dosimeter brings radiation monitoring into the digital age. About the size of the flash drive yet rugged enough for everyday use, the instadose provides an instant readout when connected to any computer with Internet access. The direct ion storage technology offers instantaneous and precise measurement of radiation dosage from 3 millirem (mrem) and detection at one mrem. Radiation workers can now have total control of when and how frequently they review their dosage on their personalized account. Radiation equipment breakdown can be identified immediately rather than having to wait for a monthly or quarterly readout. Reading and rereading the device does not affect the measurement of the cumulative dose. For the practice, the instadose monitoring program is an effective means for safeguarding its employees’ long-term health. The practice manager can instantly access up-to-date records for the entire office as well as individuals, explore comprehensive exposure histories, and identify individuals who have not read their de-vice during the past 30 days. The instadose dosimeters are stylishly available in 5 colors.
For additional information, call (877) 477-5486 or visit the company’s Web site located at iccare.net.