Written by George Freedman, DDS Monday, 01 December 2008 00:00
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.
| FenderWedge Interproximal Tooth Shields |
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It goes without saying that I have never, ever, accidentally nicked the proximal adjacent tooth when preparing an interproximal restoration or a crown. All those little surface scratches and pits must have come from another practitioner. Interproximal nicking is known to occur all too often, given the confines, access, and visibility in these areas, and is virtually impossible to avoid unless a protective material is placed between the teeth. Garrison Dental Solutions has introduced FenderWedge Interproximal Tooth Shields, designed to protect adjacent teeth from inadvertent and iatrogenic nicking. The FenderWedge has a plastic wedge portion that fits tightly in the interproximal space at the level of the papilla. As a side benefit, it provides a preseparation force, opening the contact for better access and a tighter contact upon restoration. The FenderWedge fits tightly and will not dislodge when contact is broken during preparation. It is a great tool for conservative dentistry, allowing better access to interproximal areas, better visibility, and protection from inadvertent interproximal nicks. The FenderWedge conserves tooth tissue, both on the prepared and adjacent teeth. Once the preparation is completed, the FenderWedge can be removed as easily as it was inserted, and the procedure, whether direct or indirect restorative, can continue. The FenderWedge is an easy-to-use, easy-to-place, conservative tool that should be a part of every crown- and-bridge procedure. It can be reinserted after the placement of the restoration for a few moments in order to assist in the finishing and polishing process, facilitating access for smoothing and refining interproximal margins toward the buccal and the lingual surfaces of the restoration. For more information, call (888) 437-0032 or visit the Web site garrisondental.com.
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| Go! |
  The concept of adhesion in dentistry is more than 50 years old. Practical and clinically effective adhesion to both enamel and dentin is entering its third decade. The evolution of dental adhesives has been in specific positive directions. These products have become better, faster, and less technique-sensitive. Today, the practitioner has access to a very large selection of effective and predictable adhesive products in composite dentistry. It is important to select the product that best suits the practice and the clinical techniques of the practitioner. SDI recently introduced Go! adhesive, a single-component, light-cured, self-etching, fluoride-releasing, dentin and enamel bonding system. It is a seventh-generation single-step adhesive with innovative chemical features. First and foremost, Go! exhibits high bond strengths to both enamel and dentin and is easy to apply; a single application saturating the tooth surfaces is all that is necessary. No tooth surface agitation is required. A moist dentin and enamel surface is recommended, but a dry surface is acceptable. Once Go! is thoroughly air-dried, it leaves a glossy surface that forms a low 10-µ film thickness after curing. The adhesive is 7% filled with specially treated ultrafine nanofillers that change from hydrophilic to hydrophobic after polymerization; thus, there is no moisture or water found at the restorative interface after polymerization. Go! is dark yellow in color when applied but is changed to clear during curing. Thus, the completion of the polymerization procedure is readily evident. Overetching and overdrying are not possible with Go!, and therefore postoperative sensitivity simply does not occur. The adhesive is ready to use right out of the bottle (no shaking required). For more information, call (800) 228-5166 or visit sdi.com.au. |
| Enamel Pro Varnish | ||
The art and science of fluoride varnish has been making a major comeback in recent months. Fluoride varnishes, once strictly reserved for application on children, are now becoming part of the dentist’s adult armamentarium as well. The aging baby boomer population is increasingly interested in materials that protect and strengthen enamel and dentin, and fluoride and other products that can be released from varnishes have proven to be practical and effective. Premier’s new Enamel Pro Varnish is a fluoride varnish that contains ACP (amorphous calcium phosphate), an effective desensitization and mineralizing compound. Enamel Pro’s 5% sodium fluoride white varnish is applied directly to the teeth using the enclosed brush. The brush is then used to thin out the gel on the tooth surfaces until the varnish is dry. The varnish should be applied to dry tooth surfaces, but it will cover even moist teeth with a protective film. Enamel Pro Varnish hardens on contact with saliva, allowing the patient to leave the practice immediately after application. Enamel Pro has a high level of fluoride available to exposed tooth surfaces; it also deposits calcium and phosphate from the ACP into the dentition. The gel is a fluoride-containing preparation indicated for the treatment of dentinal hypersensitivity and the reduction of postoperative sensitivity. It is recommended for the treatment of sensitive root surfaces and under provisional restorations and cements to seal dentinal tubules. For the dental practitioner, the typical hypersensitivity treatment process involves 2 applications with several days in between. Enamel Pro is available in two flavors, (1) strawberry-and-cream and (2) bubble gum, for the discriminating patient. For more information, call (888) 670-6100 or visit the Web site premusa.com. |
| SporeCheck | ||
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| Protemp Plus Temporization Material | |||
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| QuikGlaze | |||
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Dr. Freedman is past president of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry and is the materials editor for Dentistry Today. He is the author or co-author of 11 textbooks, more than 400 dental articles, and numerous CDs, video, and audiotapes and is a team member of REALITY. He is a visiting professor at the Universita di Firenze, Florence, Italy. He is a past director of CE Programs in Esthetic Dentistry at the Universities of California at San Francisco, Florida, UMKC, Minnesota, Baylor College, and Case Western Reserve, and was the founding associate director of the Esthetic Dentistry Education Center at the State University of New York at Buffalo. He is a co-founder of the Canadian Academy for Esthetic Dentistry, and a Diplomate of the American Board of Aesthetic Dentistry. He lectures internationally on dental aesthetics, dental technology, and photography. A graduate of McGill University in Montreal, Dr. Freedman maintains a private practice limited to aesthetic dentistry in Toronto and can be reached at (905) 513-9191 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
