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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CarieScan PRO RemoteView Software |
 The CarieScan PRO device is utilized for the detection and monitoring of caries by impedance spectroscopy analysis and has become well established as a leading-edge clinical technology since it was introduced several years ago. A very small electric current is passed through the patient’s tissues; the patient cannot feel it, and it does not pose any health risks. Dental caries can be identified very early and evaluated very accurately with a minimum of “false positive” readings. CarieScan’s new RemoteView Software presents all patient data in comprehensive vivid detail through an intuitive graphic user interface. The innovative software makes the CarieScan PRO an integrated system wherein data cannot only be captured, but it also can become accessible and presentable in both exhaustive and historical comparison modes. The well-defined numeric data is easily documented into a patient’s chart. The voice feedback mode assures ease of use, even for those working alone. The record keeping is quick and very easy to learn. All acquired clinical data is stored in a custom database. The practitioner can access all patient information from the practice management database and then readily review and compare chronological data to examine the individual patient’s past history, present condition, and future risk. An individual profile is developed for each user and every patient. The data can be exported and imported as necessary, and it may be used to generate a variety of PDF reports that facilitate patient education and increase oral health awareness and home care compliance. It is both Windows and Mac compatible and provides Web updates at no charge. The CarieScan PRO RemoteView Software provides clear, dependable caries detection in seconds and the subsequent ability to mine this data for optimizing patient health.For more information, call (877) 580-7226 or visit the company Web site at cariescan.com. |
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Vortex Color Changing Toothpaste |
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It is widely recognized that tooth brushing requires a minimum of 2 minutes per session (once in the morning and once in the evening) to be effective. Most adults brush far less; 25 to 30 seconds is the average 4-quadrant “brushing time” observed with conscientious individuals. Most children brush their teeth even less: an average of 7 seconds. This is simply not enough time to remove plaque, clean off bacteria, and whiten smiles. The younger set requires a play incentive to focus their attention on the otherwise important task of ex-tended tooth brushing. The new Vortex Color Changing Toothpaste by Wright Toothpaste makes the brushing process more fun and effective for children because the dentifrice slowly changes color. This readily observable progression tends to keep children engaged in the activity and encourages them to brush longer. The Vortex toothpaste’s kaleidoscopic chromatic change, accomplished through the simple combination of different colors, draws out the brushing experience, egging the user on, and extending the tooth-cleansing contact time to a more clinically acceptable result. Many brands of toothpaste will contain a foaming agent, sodium lauryl sulfate. This ingredient’s role is mostly to create the froth that is associated by adults with successful brushing. It does little to clean teeth more effectively, has a rather bitter taste (less tolerated by children), and may be implicated in gingival irritation and aphthous ulcers. Vortex Color Changing Toothpaste does not contain any foaming agents, nor does it require a strong minty flavor to mask the bitter taste of a foaming agent. Children will like the clean, sparkling taste, and gentle flavor of Vortex Color Changing Toothpaste. Getting children to bush effectively and long enough to make a difference is simply a matter of making the process fun and comfortable.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.
