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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Relyant Scalers and Curettes |
 Dental scalers tend to lose their sharpness with continual use. Dull scalers and curettes require more manual effort and a longer chairside time to get the job done. This causes longer recall appointments than necessary, hygienist hand fatigue, and patient discomfort. The calculus is often burnished, not removed. In-office scaler sharpening is the standard method for returning these instruments to full operational sharpness and angulation. But dental offices are busy places, and every team member has many tasks; there is never quite enough time to get everything done. The sharpening of instruments can be intimidating, requiring patience, specific skills, and excellent manual dexterity to prevent the mis-sharpening of the instrument tips. Nordent’s Relyant Scalers and Curettes are the first instruments that offer free, unlimited professional sharpening services for the lifetime of the instrument. That means never having to sharpen in-office again! Instruments are restored to their original blade angulation and sharpness, at the factory, as often as needed. Simply send them in to the manufacturer for expert and prompt sharpening. There is also an attractive trade-in program that replaces those Relyant instruments that have reached the end of their useful clinical life: a 40% discount applied to new, replacement scalers and curettes. The Relyant Scalers and Curettes are very ergonomic, designed for maximum operator comfort throughout the long practice day. They are made of lightweight steel, handcrafted in the United States, and the high-quality Relyant tips stay sharp longer. Available in Gracey, Jacquette, McCall, Barnhart, Columbia, and many other popular models, Relyant Scalers and Curettes offer the total instrument solution. For more information, call (800) 966-7336 or visit the company Web site at neversharpenagain.com. |
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Comfortable Cavity Preparation Kit |
 For the successful practitioner, patient comfort is—and should be—one the major objectives. (Dentists who do not worry about their patients’ satisfaction are often not successful!) Until recently, most patients did not generally perceive dental treatment as a “comfortable” experience; fortunately, many recently developed technologies and techniques have changed this very pervasive concept. SS White Burs, one of the oldest continuously operated manufacturers in dentistry, has been responsible for developing many of today’s “ouchless” instruments for the profession. It recently introduced the Comfortable Cavity Prep, part of Professional System Solutions, a kit series of task-specific rotary instruments that are configured to optimize treatment efficiency for selected dental procedures. Each kit includes a sturdy, 22-drawer storage case and an item place card for easy organization of instruments. The Comfortable Cavity Prep features Fissurotomy Burs for conservative fissure and perimeter preparations and SmartBurs II for the selective removal of infected dentin. Together, they offer a less invasive and more comfortable patient experience when compared to conventional carbide burs. The kit offers additional practice benefits. In many cases, these instruments allow the patient to have dental treatment without the need for local anesthetic in many Class V, I, II, III, and IV preparations, saving injection and anesthesia-waiting times, a significant increase in chairside productivity for the practitioner. Furthermore, satisfied patients who experience a better and more comfortable dental procedure are far more likely become referral source for their dentist. These 2 factors alone (in addition to the many other clinical and conservation benefits) can leverage the impact of the Comfortable Cavity Prep on the practice in a very positive, productive, and patient-centered direction. For more information, call (732) 905-1100 or visit the company Web site at sswhiteburs.com. |
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, more than 600 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.
