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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Luxatemp Ultra |
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Indirect dental procedures imply that a laboratory fabrication interval is part of the treatment process. Patients, particularly those who are undergoing aesthetic procedures, will not accept a compromised smile or functionality this during this one- to 2-week interval. Fortunately, the profession has had chairside fabricated provisional restorative materials for the better part of a century. Luxatemp has been the benchmark for aesthetic provisional materials for many years. Now DMG America has introduced Luxatemp Ultra, the next generation provisional, indicated for temporary crowns, bridges, inlays, onlays, and veneers. It incorporates a new proprietary technology that has optimal flow characteristics and handles well. The convenient Automix and Smartmix systems are faster and more predictable and simplify the mixing and the application process. The provisional material offers functional excellent strength and cuts easily during trimming and adjustment. Luxatemp Ultra is faster curing than its predecessor and easier to manipulate inside the mouth and out. For a more natural appearance, fluorescence has been infused with the nanofiller material to make provisionals look aesthetic under all lighting conditions, a particular concern for patients with anterior provisionals who expect to smile under black light and natural sunlight illumination. Most importantly, the improved chemistry, polymerization technology and outstanding marginal adaptation of Luxatemp Ultra make temporary restorations highly accurate. The practitioner has total clinical control. Intraorally, the provisionals feature new standards for flexural strength and an excellent break resistance. Faster curing decreases chairside downtime. There are clinical situations, often involving implant therapy, where the provisional must function for extended periods. Luxatemp Ultra has excellent chemical stability and long-term durability for these cases in which the material is required to mimic natural teeth.|
DentalVibe |
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Not surprisingly, the dental injection is not the patient’s favorite part of dental treatment. In fact, much of the aversion that is directed at the dental profession stems from an irrational (or experiential) fear of the intraoral “needle.” Dentists have developed a variety of comfort-inducing techniques and technologies, from topical anesthetics to controlled delivery systems, and some nervous patients have been mollified. Bing Innovations has introduced the DentalVibe, a cordless, rechargeable, handheld device that has been specifically designed to alleviate injection pain intraorally, and to eliminate the accompanying patient apprehension that has plagued dentistry since the advent of infusion anesthesia. The DentalVibe’s proprietary VibraPulse technology gently stimulates the sensory nerves at the injection site, effectively closing the neural pain gate, blocking the pain of injections. It delivers soothing, pulsed, percussive microoscillations immediately adjacent to the site of the administration of the injection, virtually eliminating the patient’s awareness of the needle penetration and anesthetic infusion. The VibraPulse stimulation has an additional important effect; by the gentle massaging of the injection site, the DentalVibe prevents a swelling of the bolus of anesthetic solution as it is injected submucosally. This causes an immediate dissipation of the solution, providing a faster and more profound anesthetic effect. A buzzing sound, at a comfortable decibel range of 70 to 75 dB, has been strategically incorporated into the functional profile of the DentalVibe. It is intended to function as an audible diversion. The noise provides a distracting audible stimulus that the patient tends to focus upon during the injection process. Patients typically, and enthusiastically, report no sensation at all during the injection. Try it; your patients will love it! |
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DirectDia Paste |
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Enamel presents a naturally polished surface in the mouth. This smooth and lustrous external façade of the teeth makes it difficult for plaque and bacteria to adhere, promoting long-term dental health. Damaged and decayed teeth must be returned to the same exterior condition, as must indirect restorations. Shofu Dental has recently introduced DirectDia Paste, a diamond-impregnated polishing paste that can be used both intra- and extraorally to achieve a high-luster polish on both restorations and natural tooth surfaces. DirectDia Paste is a 20% diamond polishing paste that uses synthetic diamond powder as an abrasive grain. It provides high luster polishing to any restoration and has been developed for polishing natural teeth or restorative materials, including porcelain, direct composites, or metals. Quick-polishing DirectDia Paste is manufactured in a readily distinguishable green color to facilitate its rinsing and removal after use. The paste has a pleasant lime flavor, designed to promote patient acceptance. DirectDia Paste does not require a dry target surface; it also does not splatter during polishing. Supplied in a convenient syringe with replaceable tips, the exact quantity required can be dispensed for every case. Its excellent handling and clinically developed viscosity make polishing a snap. The polishinDr. 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 special advisor of First Impressions and Buyers’ Guides 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.
