First Impressions: September 2007

TempSpan Clear Matrix Material
Pentron Clinical Technologies

It seems that there is an increased demand for indirect dental restorations. This is a natural consequence of patients becoming more aware of their dental and oral health. Perhaps as a corollary, provisionals and the innovative materials that the profession uses to fabricate and cement them have been of great interest lately. However, in order to create successful provisionals, it is important to fabricate a template prior to tooth preparation (assuming that the teeth are in relatively good anatomical shape or have been rebuilt to form and function). The traditional materials used for templates include alginates (not very accurate, tend to desiccate), and vacuform stents (very inaccurate, require extensive adjustment and reshaping). Each of these options is rather time consuming, an anathema to the clinical dentist. Pentron Clinical Technologies’s innovative approach to developing a provisional template utilizes TempSpan Clear Matrix Material, a medium viscosity vinyl polysiloxane material that reproduces the finest details in a pre-prep impression, and provides an extremely accurate provisional restoration requiring minimal adjustment and reshaping time. It is dispensed from an automix cartridge directly into the tray. Since TempSpan is clear, as its name suggests, it is compatible with both self-cure and light-cure provisional materials. Dual-cure provisional materials can be light-cured directly through the clear matrix for greater strength and much faster polymerization. This drastically shortens the provisional procedure, minimizing chair time as well as patient discomfort. TempSpan Clear Matrix Material sets quickly with a working time of about one minute and an oral set time of 2 minutes. See your way to clinically improved provisional restorations with TempSpan Clear Matrix Material.
For more information, call (800) 551-0283 or visit pentron.com.

Ketac Nano Light-Curing Glass Ionomer Restorative
3M ESPE

Resin-modified light-cured glass ionomers have always been popular among dentists. Glass ionomers have certain properties that composite resins do not. The key to increasing the popularity of the glass ionomer family is to improve the clinical and physical properties through chemistry and manufacturing modifications. The Ketac Nano Light-Curing Glass Ionomer Restorative, recently introduced by 3M ESPE, is a product that blends the benefits of resin modified, light-cured glass ionomers with bonded nano filler technology. Together they offer wear resistance, aesthetics, and immediate polishability. Ketac Nano is the first nano ionomer formulated in a paste/paste format, designed as an aesthetic glass ionomer for all ages pediatric to geriatric. Ketac Nano represents a combination of fluoroaluminosilicate and composite nano technologies. Its high fluoride release is derived from glass ionomer technology; its radiopacity, improved wear resistance, and high initial polish are derived from Filtek Supreme Plus Universal technology. The Clicker dispenser is a simplified double syringe that allows the right amount of each component, and as much material as is necessary for any restoration. Ketac Nano is available in 8 shades for excellent aesthetic adaptability. The high initial gloss and post polish smooth surface contribute to the initial aesthetics of the restoration, improving patient comfort and satisfaction. Filler particles sizes influence material strength, optical properties, and abrasion resistance. Nano size fillers and nano clusters deliver enhanced aesthetics while the glass ionomer chemistry offers fluoride release. Considering that Ketac Nano offers a new range of properties and clinical benefits that have not been associated with glass ionomer technology since its introduction, it finds itself a new category of glass ionomer restoratives, the NanoIonomers.
For more information, call (800) 634-2249 or visit 3MESPE.com.

Two-Striper Crown Pack
Premier Dental Products

Two-Striper Diamond No. 703.8C	Two-Striper Diamond No. 250.8C
Two-Striper Diamond No. 260.8C	Two-Striper Diamond No. 770.8C

Two-Striper Diamond No. 285.5C

The typical crown preparation involves a minimum of 3 (and often more) different shapes of burs: one for bulk reduction on the buccal and lingual, another for breaking contact mesially and distally (without damaging the adjacent tooth structure), and an occlusal reduction bur to create adequate interocclusal space for the crown. In most cases, anywhere from 3 to 5 burs are utilized during the crown preparation procedure, with additional shapes being required depending on the selected anatomy of the marginal finish; chamfer, shoulder or bevel. The popular Two-Striper Diamond Series has been available from Premier Dental Products for a number of years. The recent introduction of the Two-Striper Crown Pack is targeted to further increasing the clinical convenience of using these burs for crown and bridge preparation. This specifically selected assortment contains 5 of the most commonly used Two-Striper Crown and Bridge Diamonds, including the tree flame for breaking contact, the chamfer, shoulder and bevel reduction burs, and the football shape for rapid and effective occlusal reduction. The Crown Pack eliminates the process of rummaging through a crowded bur block for a particular shape or size; the most commonly needed instruments are pre-selected and ready for use. In fact, a single Two-Striper Crown Pack functions effectively as a mini-kit with all the preferred diamond preparation instruments required. The Crown Pack organizes the preparation instruments, increasing clinical efficiency and reducing the chairside time required for indirect restorative procedures. The Two-Striper Crown Pack’s grouping of these selected burs decreases stocking unnecessary burs, and reduces chairside stress, making the lives of both the dentist and auxiliary less complicated.
For more information, call (888) 773-6872 or visit premusa.com.

Tetric EvoFlow
Ivoclar Vivadent

Composites are being used for everything! And flowables are finding new niches every practice day. The current state of the art restorative materials feel like natural tooth structure, function like natural tooth structure, and look like natural tooth structure. Over the past decade, the focus of research has been to improve these materials even further; to make them better, stronger and easier to manipulate. Ivoclar Vivadent has recently introduced Tetric EvoFlo, an innovative light curing nanohybrid flowable composite based on the well established Tetric Flow. The name EvoFlow evokes the ongoing evolution and development as research has progressively developed better and more useful materials for the profession. Tetric EvoFlow is comprised of 3 different types of nano particles: nano fillers, nano color pigments, and nano modifiers which, together, offer improved shade blending, improved radiopacity (360% aluminum) and excellent handling. Typically, flowables exhibit excellent polishability and high gloss (usually at the expense of wear resistance and strength). Tetric EvoFlow’s nano hybrid composition, however, exhibits not only excellent polishing and high gloss, but a lowered wear rate and excellent clinical strength. It can be used for marginal sealing of class II restorations, small nonocclusally functioning posterior restorations, preventive resin restorations and cervical caries or erosion. Tetric EvoFlow is available in both unit dose Cavifill dispensers and screw type syringes, in 14 shades including 2 darker shades specifically designed for the restoration of cervical lesions in older patients. The natural fluorescence and built-in chameleon effect in Tetric EvoFlow offer virtually invisible applications for aesthetic restorations such as smaller anterior restorations, translucent incisal areas, and the repair of either composite or ceramic veneers.
For more information, call (800) 533 6825 in the US, (800) 263-8182 in Canada, or visit ivoclarvivadent.us.

FlexCare
Philips Sonicare

Power toothbrushes are all the rage. It has been definitively proven that power toothbrushes are far more effective at cleansing teeth and keeping gingiva and oral cavities healthier than manual toothbrushes. And many of our patients are finally getting the message. In fact, a large percentage is asking for brand recommendations at their dental visit. Continued research and development are providing both the profession and the public with improved products and modalities to maintain their dental environment in an optimally healthy state. Philips Sonicare has introduced the innovative FlexCare power toothbrush designed to remove plaque and biofilm in hard to reach areas, interproximal spaces between the posterior teeth, and along the gingival margins. The new brush head is the Pro-Results model. It offers power brushing combined with sonic technology that is gentle on dentin as it helps to shrink periodontal pockets. The Pro-Results brush head is available in 2 sizes, standard and compact. There are 3 cleaning modes: clean mode for maximum biofilm removal, sensitive mode for sensitive teeth and gingiva, and massage mode for an invigorating gingival massage, a truly unique oral experience. There are 2 brushing routines to choose from: the GoCare routine is a one minute routine that is designed for use in-between routine brushings, and the MaxCare routine, a complete, 3 minute process that combines the clean and massage modes. The FlexCare Sanitizer UV Clean Technology removes up to 99% of common bacteria found on brush heads during storage. There is a new motor design that provides 80% less vibration and noise than earlier models, and the simplified brush head connection is user friendly.
For more information, call (800) 676-7664 (SONIC) or visit sonicare.com/dp.

SurgiCam Digital Video Camera
SurgiTel

Visual records have become increasingly important in dental practice, whether for routine documentation of a case, teaching purposes, creating a website/promotional video, or simply reviewing procedures. If a picture speaks 1,000 words, a video speaks volumes. The most common gripes with video recording a procedure are the extra person required to operate the camera and the crowding this creates in the operative field. SurgiTel, a leader and innovator in dental magnification and visual technology, has introduced the SurgiCam digital camera system. This medical/dental breakthrough captures DVD quality video directly to a regular computer digital recording via a USB cable. SurgiTel’s patented technology provides a truly unique mode for visualizing and documenting clinical procedures in a digital format. SurgiCam’s advanced miniaturized digital camera system features high precision optical lenses and an integrated sensor technology that provides outstanding image quality at 30 FPS with a resolution of 640 X 1480. The SurgiCam’s plug-and-play technology makes it the operatory set-up easy and convenient, and provides video and still-images with no data conversion, no delay, and no complex audio-visual conversion procedures. The camera can be attached directly to existing SurgiTel loupes or to a headband (without loupes). Digital video recording software provides AVI format recording, review of the video sequences, preview for set-up optimization, selection of the appropriate video images and the ability to extract high quality still images in a JPEG format. Any of the image elements can be inserted directly into electronic documents for teaching or documentation purposes or transmission to other practitioners. The SurgiCam’s digital documentation offers the most comprehensive self-learning tool that dentists can use when reviewing their own clinical procedures.
For more information, call (800) 959-0153 or visit surgitel.com.