First Impressions: January 2014

Turbo Temp 3
Danville Materials

Provisional materials must be strong enough to withstand normal occlusal forces from several weeks to several months. These materials must also be rigid enough to prevent decementation over the same time period. They must resist staining from a variety of oral discolorants and maintain excellent esthetics throughout their use. And, of course, they must dispense, handle, polymerize, and polish with minimum fuss for the practitioner. Turbo Temp 3, recently introduced by Danville Materials, is an enhanced crown and bridge provisional material that offers improved physical properties as well as a lower price to practitioners. It provides predictable temporization for a range of indirect restorations, including single crowns to extended bridges, and polymerizes hard-to-grip abutments tightly, eliminating costly recementation appointments. Turbo Temp 3, a bis-acryl composite chairside provisional material, is easily dispensed via a syringe with minimal stress on the hands from a 10:1 cartridge. Existing Turbo Temp 2 “guns” are convertible to Turbo Temp 3 with free interchangeable sliders from Danville. The rapid automix delivery system assures a perfect chemistry every time, accurately reproducing tooth detail for a fully functional provisional restoration. There are 6 shades available, from A3.5 to Bleach White, offering a comprehensive esthetic palette. After the initial in-mouth polymerization (approximately 3 minutes), the material is very easy to trim with a scalpel or a sharp scaler, and in the unlikely case of voids or marginal discrepancies, it can be readily repaired with a flowable resin. Turbo Temp 3 polishes and/or glazes to a very smooth finish that is retained throughout the service life of the provisional. Patients often re-port that these temporary restorations feel “smooth,” even after months of continuous wear.

For more information, call (800) 827-7940 or visit the company Web site at danvillematerials.com.

SafeLoupe Laser Filter
DentLight

The proliferation of lasers in the dental profession has been astounding since the introduction of reasonably priced diode lasers just a few years ago. While lasers are generally quite safe when used according to instructions, if they are ever pointed directly at the eyes while they are operating, they can damage the retina. While this is a rather unlikely occurrence (much like the handpiece accidentally cutting through the operator’s hand), it does make sense to arrange for protection, just in case. Most manufacturers provide safety goggles that protect the operators’ and assistants’ eyes from inadvertent laser beams. These goggles, however, rarely fit over the magnification loupes that many practitioners wear. There are 3 possible solutions: (1) to buy an additional pair of dedicated laser filtered loupes, (2) to insert clip-in filters behind the lens every time the lasers are used, or (3) to re-adapt the existing loupes to operational safety. A second pair of loupes can be very expensive, and clip-ins are uncomfortable and may promote cross-contamination. DentLight has recently introduced its SafeLoupe Laser Filter system to facilitate the rapid and easy conversion of existing loupes in order to protect the eyes of the dental team. The filters are preconfigured to fit the existing loupes with respect to the adapter size and the number of articulating arms. The ocular filters are easy to clip onto the loupes, are lightweight and comfortable, and offer minimum light loss and color distortion. The SafeLoupe Laser Filters enable hassle-free and totally comfortable laser procedures and are manufactured to fit on all major loupe brands. The SafeLoupe Laser Filters are available for a range of laser wavelengths: 810 nm, 940 nm, 980 nm, and 1,064 nm.

For more information, call (800) 763-6901 or visit the company Web site at dentlight.com.

Bio-Pure Evacuation Cleaner
Bio-Pure Products (Sable Industries)

It is safe to say that the least favorite task among the staff in the dental practice is the regular cleaning of the central and operatory vacuum line traps. Cleaning the traps is a job that is sometimes surreptitiously avoided by those responsible. The practitioner is only made aware of this when the traps or lines become completely blocked, necessitating expensive repairs. Vacuum lines and traps also accumulate potentially dangerous biofilms, a major headache for every dental office. Bio-Pure Products has introduced the Bio-Pure Evacuation System Cleaner, an innovative product that restores and maintains evacuation system flow and function by actively breaking down and digesting organic waste. Designed to break down the vacuum line buildup enzymatically, the Bio-Pure Evacuation System Cleaner’s specialized bacteria essentially digests any remaining organic waste. It has a proprietary, designer microbial formula that returns vacuum line suction to the full pump capacity. Not only is the current trapping of sludge from blood, tissues, and most dental materials eliminated, but pre-existing debris is bacterially digested and eradicated as well. The Bio-Pure Evacuation System Cleaner comprises 100% all-natural ingredients, has a neutral pH, and is noncorrosive, safe for amalgam collectors and pump components. As it removes trap sludge and line biofilm, it also eliminates odor. Supplied in a convenient powder format, it is simply dissolved in water and passed through the evacuation system. There is no foaming. There are 2 components in the system: Bio-Pure Restorative is used initially for several weeks to “reset” the vacuum system by eliminating the accumulated biofilm buildup. Then, Bio-Pure Cleaner, used on a regular basis, maintains the clean lines and traps. In fact, it continues to clean in be-tween uses. Importantly for the bottom line, the average weekly cost is less than $2 per operatory.

For additional information, contact either Bio-Pure Products at (888) 596-6546 or the distributor Sable Industries at (800) 368-8106 or visit the Web sites located at biopureproducts.com or sableindustriesinc.com.